Fatal La Cresta Shooting: 1 Suspect Arrested, Charged

MURRIETA, CA — A suspect sought in last month's fatal La Cresta shooting has been arrested, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced late Tuesday night. Information about a second suspect, however, was not released.

Jose Daniel Aguilar, 29, of Orange was taken into custody early Sunday morning in Moreno Valley by Riverside County homicide detectives, according to jail records. The sheriff's department said he was picked up during a traffic stop; the arrest location was Eucalyptus Avenue and Heacock Street.

Aguilar was sought in the Feb. 26 slaying of Andrew Cisneros, 35, of La Cresta, who died after being shot several times at his home — a single-story, 5-acre estate in the 38100 block of Via Majorca.

According to court records, Aguilar was slated to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on one count each of first-degree murder, robbery and burglary. He is also facing sentencing enhancements of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, committing a murder in the commission of a burglary and committing a murder in the commission of a robbery.

Details about whether the victim knew Aguilar were not disclosed.

The Orange County man was being held at Riverside's Robert Presley Detention Center. No bail was set for him. Jail records show he was wanted on an out-of-county warrant.

Aguilar was one of at least two suspects who fled from the homicide scene and were being sought. Information about leads on additional suspects was not provided by the sheriff's department, but the agency reported Tuesday night that Aguilar was identified as "one of the suspects."

The victim was found after deputies from the Lake Elsinore Station were dispatched at 6:22 p.m. Feb. 26 to a report of the shooting at the Via Majorca home. La Cresta is an unincorporated residential community located just west of Murrieta city limits.

More than 10 sheriff's department vehicles and at least one Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department truck responded, sirens and lights blaring.

It's not clear who called for help.

Deputies attempted life-saving measures on Cisneros until paramedics arrived, but he died at the scene, according to the sheriff's department.

A sheriff's department helicopter was summoned in an effort to help track down the suspects. Despite several hours of searching, no arrests were made the night of the killing.

It's not clear what led investigators to Aguilar.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Investigator Rodriguez at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station at 951-245-3300, or Investigator G. Gonzalez with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777. Tips can also be submitted using the sheriff's Homicide Tipline online form.

Sunday's fatal shooting in the residential enclave follows a Dec. 26, 2020, gunbattle at a La Cresta home that left two men dead. Read more here.