Series of violent crimes on same street result in gang takedown operation, numerous arrests
PHOTOS: Riverside PD
Several people have been arrested or charged in connection to a series of violent crimes as a result of a multi-agency gang takedown operation in Southern California.
According to the Riverside Police Department, the investigation began when a female victim – whose name has not been released – was struck by gunfire multiple times on January 26, 2019.
Shortly after, on February 8, Jordan Love was assaulted and died a few days later. On September 1, William Calderon was shot and killed.
All of these crimes occurred on El Sol Way in the Casa Blanca neighborhood of Riverside.
Investigators soon developed leads identifying 26-year-old Kelvin Taylor of Riverside as the primary suspect in Love’s murder. He was arrested on May 1, 2019, and currently awaits trial.
Detectives also identified numerous suspects in the murder of William Calderon: 24-year-old Jeffrey Taylor was arrested on October 3, 2019; 21-year-old Russell Smith was arrested on December 21, 2019, in Oklahoma; and 29-year-old Russell Wilkerson and 23-year-old Reuben Kelly on December 31.
All four, who are known associates of the same criminal street gang, face charges of murder with special circumstances, murder with the use of a firearm, gang conspiracy, and gang enhancements.
On January 16 of this year, multiple agencies joined together to conduct “Operation Blocc Buster” – a coordinated operation consisting of search warrants, probation searches, and parole searches – at 17 locations in three counties.
Authorities seized two assault rifles, two handguns, various calibers of ammunition, around two-and-a-half pounds of marijuana, over $4,500 in cash, and numerous mobile phones, computers, and more.
Several additional suspects were also arrested. They are: Edward Smith Sr. (59), Owen Robin Smith (53), Brandon Stewart (43), Mark Alan Lemelle (34), Anthony Mahan (30), James Bonner (22), David Ligon (19), Dylan Moody (27), Asiya Ephraim (25), Kevin Washington (28), and Deshan Hampton (18).
The investigation into the attempted murder of the woman on January 26, 2019, continues.
