On May 26, 2024, at about 5:32 p.m. Ryan White, 43, of San Diego County, was shot while seated in a parked vehicle on Neer Street in Homeland, California. Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies found White with a gunshot wound; he was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

Deputies detained 40-year-old Homeland resident Benjamin Joshua Velez Jr. at the scene; he required treatment for a minor injury and was booked into Riverside County Jail on suspicion of murder with bail set at $1 million. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of any relationship between White and Velez or a motive. Court records show Velez had prior felony convictions for forgery and possession of controlled substances for sale and was on probation at the time.

On June 17, 2024, Velez pleaded not guilty to murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, probation violations, and sentence-enhancing allegations for use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury. The Central Homicide Unit is investigating and asks anyone with information to contact Investigator K. Farag at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Tochtrop at the Perris Sheriff’s Station at 760-836-1600.

Did anyone in Homeland or the broader San Diego County area know Ryan White or see him on Neer Street that evening?