On March 25, 2024, at approximately 12:05 a.m., deputies from the Thermal Sheriff's Station responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 71000 block of Miramar Drive in Mecca, California. Upon arrival, they discovered evidence of a shooting in the 99000 block of Via Costa Brava but found neither a victim nor a suspect at the scene.
As the investigation progressed, authorities were led to the area of Sea View Way and 72nd Avenue in North Shore, where they discovered the body of 17-year-old Francisco Ramirez, a resident of Mecca. The Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation, treating the case as a homicide.
In June 2024, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department identified 20-year-old David Espinoza, also from Mecca, as a person of interest in the case. Espinoza was already wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for an unrelated robbery and assault with a deadly weapon investigation. Despite efforts to locate him, Espinoza remained at large, and authorities sought the public's assistance in determining his whereabouts.
As of December 2024, there have been no reports indicating that Espinoza has been apprehended or that any other suspects have been arrested in connection with Francisco Ramirez's death. The investigation remains active, and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department continues to encourage anyone with information to come forward to aid in resolving the case.
