Manuel Villaman, a 22-year-old resident of Jurupa Valley, California, tragically lost his life on May 29, 2021. The incident occurred during a quinceañera celebration at a private residence in the 4900 Block of Rutile Street, Jurupa Valley. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon around 10 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies found two males suffering from gunshot wounds. Manuel Villaman was pronounced dead at the scene, while his brother, who was also shot, was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
The investigation into the shooting was promptly taken over by the Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit. As the investigation unfolded, authorities identified Gael Ian Cazares, a 19-year-old resident of Jurupa Valley, as the primary suspect. Cazares was located and arrested in the 5900 Block of Troth Street in Jurupa Valley. He was subsequently booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder. Cazares remains in custody without bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice on June 3, 2021.
The motive behind the shooting has not been publicly disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing. The tragic event has left the community in mourning, and a GoFundMe account was created to assist the Villaman family with hospital, funeral, and other related expenses. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department continues to encourage anyone with information about the incident to come forward to aid in the investigation.
