Crime & Safety
Search For Killer Leads To Menifee: RSO
"After an extensive and exhaustive six-month investigation," an arrest has been made, authorities announced Monday night.
MENIFEE, CA — It's been nearly six months since 20-year-old Raul Solorio of Hemet was fatally gunned down in San Jacinto, and a boy was also wounded in the incident.
An arrest has now been made in the case, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced Monday night.
"After an extensive and exhaustive six-month investigation, the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit, with the assistance of the Riverside County District Attorney Office Gang Impact Team, identified the homicide suspect as 25-year-old Johnathen Amezola of Hemet. Following up on numerous investigative leads, on July 6, 2025, they were able to locate and arrest Amezola in the city of Menifee," a sheriff's department statement said.
Jail records show Amezola was arrested on Antelope Road. He's being held at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on charges of murder and assault with a semi-automatic firearm, both felonies. He was also booked on a misdemeanor traffic charge.
His bail is set at $1 million.
The shooting investigation began shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 12 when deputies were called to a residence in the 1800 block of Normandy Court in San Jacinto after receiving multiple reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
When deputies arrived, they found a man, later identified as Solorio, on the ground "suffering from significant injuries," the sheriff's department reported.
Solorio died at the scene.
A short time later, a boy arrived at a local hospital and received treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Authorities were contacted, and sheriff's investigators "determined that this second victim was injured during the incident on Normandy Court," according to the sheriff's department.
A motive for the shooting was not publicly disclosed.
