Lowry Richard "Ricky" Rivers, aged 55, was tragically shot and killed on April 8, 2018, in National City, California. The incident occurred just before 5 a.m. outside a 7-Eleven convenience store on North Highland Avenue. Several 911 callers reported hearing gunfire, and when police arrived, they found Rivers with a critical gunshot wound. He was transported to UCSD Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The police did not immediately release his name, but his family identified him publicly soon after the incident.
The investigation into Rivers' death revealed that his murder was part of a series of violent incidents in the area. Just two weeks prior, another man, Onan Loaiza, was also gunned down outside the same 7-Eleven store. The suspect in Loaiza's murder, Robert Alan Garduno, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. However, Rivers' case remained unsolved for a significant period, prompting the National City Police Department to offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
In November 2020, police announced new arrests in connection with a string of gang-related killings, including the murder of Lowry Richard Rivers. Ismael Betancourt, a 20-year-old resident of National City, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder in Rivers' case. This arrest was part of a broader investigation that linked several homicides and attempted homicides in the San Diego area to gang activities. The police emphasized that many of these cases appeared to be connected and involved the same suspects.
The investigation into Rivers' death highlighted the ongoing issue of gang violence in the region. Community leaders and law enforcement officials launched initiatives to address the spike in violence, including the "Peace Movement: Let's Live, Let's Love," spearheaded by Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe. Despite these efforts, the community continued to grapple with the aftermath of these tragic events, seeking justice for the victims and striving to prevent further violence.
