Two ID'd In Deadly Cherry Valley Shooting, Murder-Suicide Suspected

CHERRY VALLEY, CA – Two people who were killed in an apparent murder-suicide over the weekend – prompting a muti-agency and SWAT response to the scene – have been publicly identified.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, it appears as though 67-year-old John Malicek shot 46-year-old Jose Leon before turning the gun on himself. Both were residents of Cherry Valley.

The incident happened at the Royal Coach Mobile Home Park in the 39000 block of Cherry Valley Boulevard, just across the street from Beaumont High School, around 10:50 a.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff's department. It started with a call for an assault with a deadly weapon, and responding deputies found Leon's body in the roadway.

"When deputies arrived, they heard additional gunshots coming from a residence at the location," the sheriff's department said in a news release.

"The Riverside County Sheriff’s SWAT team responded and secured a perimeter around the residence where the gunshots were heard," the agency said. "While securing the residence the SWAT team located a deceased White male adult inside. The male sustained gunshot injuries that caused his death."

The area around the crime scene was blocked for several hours on Saturday, as law enforcement worked to secure the perimeter. Initial reports indicated that there was possibly an active shooter in the area, but sheriff's officials later clarified that the shooter was holed up inside the residence.

The circumstances leading up to the deadly confrontation between Malicek and Leon remained under investigation as of Monday.

SEE ALSO:

• Two Confirmed Dead in Cherry Valley Shooting, SWAT Cleared [UPDATE]

Patch photo by Renee Schiavone