Crime & Safety

Man 'Brandishes Weapon' At Temecula Bar, Tied To Road Rage Shooting In Murrieta: Cops

Police believe the same man flashed a gun at a Temecula bar, fired a weapon the same night in Murrieta. Are they connected?

On Aug. 4, after midnight, a suspect flashed a gun near a Jefferson Avenue bar.
On Aug. 4, after midnight, a suspect flashed a gun near a Jefferson Avenue bar. (Renee Schiavone/Patch)

TEMECULA, CA — The Murrieta Police and the Southwest Sheriff's Station investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are seeking the public's help in identifying a man who witnesses say showed a firearm while at a Temecula nightclub, then later fired a weapon during a road rage incident in Murrieta.

On Aug. 4, just after midnight, Southwest Sheriff's Station dispatchers received reports of a man "brandishing a firearm" at the ET's Sports Lounge at 27423 Jefferson Avenue.

Later that same night, Murrieta Police answered a call regarding a road rage incident between drivers of a Tesla and a pickup truck, where a firearm was discharged, officials say. It was not clear which vehicle the suspect was riding in; however, investigators believe both incidents are connected.

Find out what's happening in Temeculafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Details on both incidents were still unfolding, and it was not immediately clear if anyone was injured in either incident. More information will be added to this report as it becomes available.

Murrieta police asked anyone with information to email or call Detective David Hernandez at DHernandez@MurrietaCA.gov, 951-461-6359 and address case number MR25-3981.

Find out what's happening in Temeculafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

This is not the first incident that occurred outside ET's this year. The latest, in March, occurred when two men were shot by a third man, who was later arrested. Both men survived the shooting, which occurred outside the bar. The suspect in that shooting is expected to return to court on Oct. 25 at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center, and was being held on $1 million bail.

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