In the early hours of July 24, 2024, Riverside Police Department officers responded to reports of a car theft in progress on the 9100 block of Magnolia Avenue in Riverside, California. Upon arrival, they discovered a stolen Honda Civic that had collided with several parked vehicles and a dumpster. Inside the vehicle, officers found 35-year-old Riverside resident Alex Arzate, unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Arzate was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Investigators quickly identified 41-year-old Tony Ortiz of Perris as the primary suspect in the shooting. According to police reports, Ortiz allegedly witnessed Arzate stealing the Honda Civic. As Arzate attempted to flee in the stolen vehicle, Ortiz is believed to have produced a handgun and shot him. Detectives, with assistance from the METRO Team, arrested Ortiz at his residence in Perris several hours after the incident. A search of his home led to the seizure of several firearms, including the one suspected to have been used in the shooting.
Ortiz was subsequently booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of murder and weapons violations, with bail set at $1 million. In September 2024, Ortiz pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment at the Riverside Hall of Justice. A felony settlement conference was scheduled for December 11, 2024. As of the latest available information, Ortiz remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
The case has garnered attention due to the circumstances surrounding the shooting, particularly the fact that Ortiz allegedly did not own the vehicle Arzate was attempting to steal. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that individuals should not take the law into their own hands and should instead report crimes to authorities. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with additional information to contact the Riverside Police Department.
