TEMECULA – On Friday, a joint task force arrested two suspects regarding a two-week-old murder.
On the morning of Monday September 22, Temecula Police Department dispatch received calls regarding gunfire from the residents of Portafino Apartments. Officers from the Temecula Police arrived at the apartment complex in the 29900 block of Rancho California Road and discovered a male victim. The man, later identified as Justin Triplett, 24, was a resident of the complex and lying in his doorway. He had suffered gunshot wounds. Triplett was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Valley News, the victim was known as “Trip” to his friends, was an aspiring rapper, and some friends had noted that he may have been engaged with the wrong crowd recently. The community rallied though and raised $6,750 for the young man’s funeral expenses.
The Central Homicide Unit began an investigation of the murder. Working with U.S. Marshal’s Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, investigators were able to identify and locate a suspect. On Friday, October 3, the Riverside County Sheriff’s SWAT Team, working with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT Team, served two search warrants in conjunction with the murder at two different residences. One of the warrants was served in the 29000 block of Stonewood Road, Temecula and the second warrant was served in the 1400 block of North Sepulveda Avenue in San Bernardino.
The warrants netted two arrests. Eligha Everett, 22, of Temecula, was arrested and booked for homicide. Additionally, Leah Nolan, 22, of Temecula, was arrested and booked for aiding and harboring a criminal.
The authorities are still investigating the crime and request that community members with information contact Detective Gorlicki of the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000, or Investigator Dickey of the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777.
Read More:
CBSLA: Temecula suspects arrested in murder
Press Enterprise: Suspects arrested in fatal apartment shooting
