In the early hours of October 25, 2023, at approximately 2:30 a.m., an incident occurred at the Sleepy Hollow Cabins and Hotel on Lake Drive in Crestline, California. The night manager, 51-year-old Steven Duane Colter, was involved in an altercation in the hotel's parking lot, during which he sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported Colter to a nearby hospital, where he was initially reported to be in critical condition.
Shortly after the shooting, two individuals were observed leaving the scene. Authorities apprehended 43-year-old Brian Serrano of Sun City and 46-year-old Jaime Rojas of Santa Ana as they attempted to flee in a white BMW. Serrano was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and booked into the Central Detention Center, while Rojas, who had sustained injuries, was taken to a hospital for treatment and was awaiting booking on charges of conspiracy to commit attempted murder.
Tragically, on October 26, 2023, Colter succumbed to his injuries. In response, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department updated the charges against Serrano and Rojas to first-degree murder. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing, with detectives from the Sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, leading the efforts.
Community members have expressed their condolences for Colter, who was a resident of Crestline and served as the night manager of the Sleepy Hollow Cabins and Hotel. An online memorial has been established in his honor, where friends and family have lit candles and shared memories to commemorate his life.
Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Twin Peaks Station. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the We-Tip hotline.
