Hunt For Suspected RivCo Killer Ends In Arrest, K-9 Injured

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A suspect sought in connection with the deadly shooting of a 30-year-old woman at a Hemet home is in custody following a law enforcement pursuit that traversed the county and ended more than 24 hours later with a combative arrest in Cabazon, Hemet police reported Thursday.

Koron LeKeith Lowe, 24, of Hemet was receiving treatment in the Riverside County sheriff's inmate infirmary at Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley and was expected to be formally booked once he's cleared by doctors to leave. He was being treated for injuries sustained during his Wednesday afternoon arrest that involved a Hemet police K-9 named Bosco.

Lowe will be booked on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, resisting arrest, and assault on a police dog in connection with the Tuesday morning shooting death of Asasha Lache Hall of Hemet, police said.

Lowe had been a "person of interest" in Hall's slaying in the 3000 block of Greengable Lane, near Lavender Lane, but he fled the scene before police arrived.

"Working throughout [Tuesday] night, investigators found themselves seemingly only minutes behind Lowe, working their way from Hemet to the Beaumont and Banning Pass Area by morning," Hemet police reported.

Investigators caught up with Lowe shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday in a Cabazon parking lot.

"Investigators attempted to negotiate with Lowe, but he refused to surrender and get out of the parked car he was hiding in," Hemet police continued.

Hemet police K-9 Bosco was used to get Lowe out of the vehicle.

"Lowe violently fought the dog and struck it with a sharp piece of wood," injuring the animal, according to police.

Police officers and Riverside County sheriff's deputies were eventually able to corral Lowe who was also injured in the struggle.

Bosco was transported to an area emergency veterinary clinic and treated for his wounds.

Bosco has been "a valued member of the Hemet Police Department for four months and is expected to be back on the job after a weekend of rest and recovery," police said.

Lowe allegedly killed Hall during a confrontation with her and other unnamed parties on the first floor of their shared two-story residence in the 3000 block of Greengable Lane, near Lavender Lane, according to Hemet Police Lt. Nathan Miller.

Hemet police had been called to the scene around 6:15 a.m. Tuesday following reports of shots fired.

In addition to calls from neighbors, a woman hiding inside the two-story Greengable Lane home with two young children confirmed to a 911 dispatcher that shots were fired. Two other adults at the residence fled through a garage door "when they heard a disturbance followed by gunshots," Hemet police reported.

Officers surrounded the home and were able to safely evacuate the woman who had been hiding inside with the 5- and 6-year-old youths.

During the evacuation, police found Hall dead with gunshot wounds.

SWAT officers were called because it was unknown whether a shooting suspect was inside the home. Neighboring residents were evacuated while the tactical team entered the Greengable Lane house and searched it. Other than Hall's body, no one else was found.

Once the scene was deemed safe, neighbors were allowed back into their homes although crime scene investigators worked for hours processing evidence.

During the investigation, detectives determined that five adults and two children lived in the house together. Two other adults were also visiting the home Tuesday morning. Police did not disclose the relationships of the people.

Prior to the gunfire, Lowe "began causing a disturbance and arguing with the other adults," according to Hemet police.

During the argument, shots were fired and Hall was struck by bullets.

Specific details regarding the argument were not disclosed.