On May 14, 2023, Curtis Ward, a 44-year-old resident of Riverside, California, was found with a gunshot wound in the 10600 block of Villa Street in Adelanto. Responding deputies from the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station provided initial aid before Ward was transported to a Los Angeles County trauma center for further treatment. Despite medical efforts, Ward succumbed to his injuries on June 21, 2023.
Following the incident, investigators identified 67-year-old Adelanto resident Steven Soliz as the primary suspect in the shooting. An arrest warrant was issued, and Soliz was apprehended on June 15 near the intersection of Aster and Palmdale roads in Adelanto. He was subsequently booked into the High Desert Detention Center, with bail set at $1 million. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting or clarified the nature of the relationship between Ward and Soliz.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has classified the case as a homicide and continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ward's death. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. Detectives have urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
