Armed Robbery & Attempted Murder at Gunpoint – Shot Fired During Offer Up-App Sale
MORENO VALLEY – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released an alert of a social media incident that could have been prevented with locally-provided resources. Moreno Valley Deputies were swiftly dispatched to the scene of a “Robbery at Gunpoint” at 8:05AM on 12/16/2020.
Deputies arrived to the 11000 block of Mathews Road, in Riverside County’s 2nd-largest city in the Greater Los Angeles Area by population (approx 194,000), located in the Riverside-San Bernardino- Ontario Metropolitan Area. While “the victim was at the location to sell the suspect items using the OfferUp application, the suspect pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the victim,” said Sergeant Ryan Marcuse.
Next, “The suspect forcefully removed property from the victim and fired one round directly at the victim,” said Sgt. Marcuse. “After shooting at the victim, the suspect fled the area in a dark red Sport Utility Vehicle.”
Arriving Deputies canvassed the area for the suspect and vehicle – to no avail. “The Moreno Valley Station Robbery Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) immediately began working the case and collecting items of evidentiary value.” said Sgt. Marcuse.
Public assistance and the Moreno Valley Citywide Camera System ID’d the alleged Armed Robbery and Attempted Murder suspect as Lata Aeau (20) of Moreno Valley. Members of RBST, with search warrant in-hand, arrived at Aeau’s residence, located in the 12000 block of Barnes Court, on 12/23/2020.
“Several items related to the robbery were located and Aeau was taken into custody without incident,” said Sgt. Marcuse. Also arrested there, for several outstanding felony warrants, were Onosai Tavui (34) and Anzac Aeau (21).
All three Moreno Valley residents (Aeau, Tavui and A. Aeau,) were later booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center. All of this could have been prevented if the dedicated safe-exchange location in the station’s parking lot had been utilized for the OfferUp app’s transaction. RBST reminds the public that this spot is here, for all safe exchanges.
Mission Statement: The Moreno Valley Police Department has identified a citywide camera system as a way to enhance public safety without adding police officers. In other communities, the use of citywide camera systems has led to the identification and arrest of suspects in a multitude of crimes. For additional information please contact the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700 or by email at mvpd@moval.org.
As well, Moreno Valley is proud to tout their established, first-rate law enforcement program. The City of Moreno Valley contracts police services from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation #MV203510055 is urged to contact Moreno Valley Station RBST Deputy Ryan Morgan at 951-486-6700.
