On August 12, 2024, at approximately 8:00 a.m., 29-year-old Jose Eduardo Del Real of Perris, California, was fatally shot near the intersection of Cajalco Road and Haines Street in Mead Valley. Good Samaritans attempted CPR, but Del Real was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Investigators linked Del Real's death to a vehicle theft reported minutes earlier in the 19000 block of Summerwind Trail, less than a mile from the shooting location.
Details about Del Real's involvement in the theft remain unclear.
Authorities arrested multiple suspects in connection with the case. On August 20, 2024, 26-year-old convicted felon Juan Cristoval Ambriz of Perris was charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping, and firearm possession. He was already in custody for unrelated charges when formally booked for Del Real's murder.
On the same day, 31-year-old Daniel Santos Ambriz and 21-year-old Samantha Insley, both from Perris, were apprehended in Lawton, Oklahoma. Daniel Ambriz faced a homicide arrest warrant, while Insley was held for aiding and abetting. Both awaited extradition to Riverside County.
By September 6, 2024, Daniel Ambriz and Juan Cristoval Barra (also known as Ambriz) pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, kidnapping, and firearm possession. They were held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside. Insley awaited extradition from Oklahoma on charges of being an accessory after the fact.
Court records indicate that both Ambriz and Barra have prior felony convictions, including armed robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. Insley has a prior conviction for carjacking.
The investigation into Del Real's death is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
