Joseph Slaten, a 49-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, California, was tragically killed on February 14, 2018. Slaten was found shot in a parked car near a home on Avenida Alta Loma around 5:30 p.m. that day. Alongside him was a woman who also sustained gunshot wounds but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident was reported to the police as they were en route to the location following reports of an argument.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victims and pronounced Slaten dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly identified Anthony Webb, a 39-year-old man from San Pedro, as the primary suspect in the shooting. Webb was apprehended in late February after a tense standoff with a Los Angeles police SWAT unit at his residence. The Riverside County Gang Impact Team initially attempted to arrest Webb, but he barricaded himself inside his home, necessitating the involvement of the SWAT team. Webb was subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder and was ordered to stand trial.
However, the case took an unexpected turn when Webb was found dead in his jail cell at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. Jail deputies discovered Webb unresponsive around 4 a.m. on a Saturday, and despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead. Authorities indicated that no foul play was suspected in Webb's death. This development left many questions unanswered regarding the full circumstances and motivations behind the Valentine's Day shooting that claimed Joseph Slaten's life.
