Jeremy Alexander Henness, a 31-year-old man, was tragically shot and killed on August 12, 2018, in Pomona, California. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning at the Pomona train station, where Henness and another man, Robert Salinas, were found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. The discovery was made by a homeless individual who alerted nearby authorities.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 4:30 a.m.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Christopher Matthew Peterson, a 40-year-old Amtrak engineer. Peterson contacted the Ontario Police Department, expressing uncertainty about his involvement in the shooting due to being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Following this call, Pomona investigators visited Peterson's home in Ontario, where they arrested him on suspicion of two counts of murder. Peterson, who had been employed by Amtrak since 2010, was not on duty at the time of the incident. He was charged with two counts of murder and held without bail.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that the gun found at Peterson's home was registered to him, although he did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Tests were conducted to determine if the weapon was used in the shooting. Additionally, drug paraphernalia was found near the bodies of Henness and Salinas, leading investigators to suspect that the shooting might have been drug-related. Both victims were known to be homeless, and outreach officers had previously contacted Henness to offer services.
Peterson's arraignment took place on August 16, 2018, at the Pomona Courthouse. The case drew significant attention due to the involvement of an Amtrak employee and the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of two homeless individuals. The investigation continued as authorities sought to uncover more details about the motive and circumstances leading to the fatal shooting.
