San Diego County Man Blamed In 2 Fentanyl Deaths Near Temecula

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego County man was behind bars Tuesday in Southwest Riverside County on suspicion of murder after two local men died after ingesting fentanyl-laced narcotics that he allegedly supplied to them, authorities announced.

Christopher Michael Koppa, 36, was taken into custody by Riverside County deputies at 10:30 a.m. Monday on E. Main Street in El Cajon. He was transported to Murrieta's Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of murder and misdemeanor drug charges. He is being held on $1 million bail, according to jail records.

The Riverside County investigation into Koppa dates back four years. Around 11:40 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2018, deputies were called to the 22000 block of Hoofbeat Way in Canyon Lake regarding an unresponsive man. When they arrived, it was determined that Devahn Reed, 30, was dead.

Less than a month later, deputies were called to a similar situation five miles away. Around 9:26 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2018, the body of 34-year-old Patrick Schwab was found in the 31000 block of Cedarhill Lane in Lake Elsinore.

Narcotics were suspected in both cases, so the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit took over. Fentanyl poisoning was determined in both men, and a trail led to Koppa — but it's not clear what evidence against the San Diego County man investigators obtained.

Koppa was on probation for several narcotic offenses at the time of his arrest Monday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Riverside County court records document that he was charged with drug offenses stemming back to 2018 and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to show up for court.

The investigation into Koppa is continuing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Master Investigator Robert Cornett at 951-955-1700.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is warning that, given the low cost of fentanyl, dealers are lacing their products with the synthetic opioid — and buyers are often unaware.

"As a reminder, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics, many [of] which may contain fentanyl," the sheriff's department reported. "Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm."