Kirk Savala, a 52-year-old resident of Highland, California, tragically lost his life on April 16, 2016, in a shooting incident that also left his wife, Donna Savala, seriously injured. The couple was caught in the crossfire of a dispute while they were in the 25900 block of Baseline Avenue. The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m., and both Kirk and Donna were transported to a nearby hospital.
Unfortunately, Kirk succumbed to his injuries, while Donna, despite being seriously wounded, survived the ordeal.
The investigation quickly identified the suspect as Jovan Meeks, a 21-year-old resident of San Bernardino. Authorities believe that the Savalas were innocent bystanders who were inadvertently struck by gunfire during an altercation. An arrest warrant was issued for Meeks with a bail amount set at $2 million. Despite initial efforts to locate him, Meeks remained at large for several weeks.
On April 22, 2016, homicide investigators publicly named Meeks as the suspect and sought assistance from the public to apprehend him. The case drew significant attention, and law enforcement agencies worked diligently to track down the suspect. Eventually, on June 27, 2016, Meeks was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was temporarily held in Clark County before being extradited to San Bernardino County to face charges related to the murder of Kirk Savala and the attempted murder of Donna Savala.
The tragic incident highlighted the dangers of being caught in the middle of violent disputes and underscored the importance of community cooperation in solving such cases. The arrest of Jovan Meeks brought some measure of justice to the Savala family, although the loss of Kirk Savala left a lasting impact on his loved ones and the Highland community.
