Man is charged in killing of deputy
Riverside County prosecutors plan to pursue murder, attempted murder case against 43-year-old
Authorities on Monday charged a man with killing Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Darnell Calhoun, who was gunned down in Lakeland Village near Lake Elsinore — allegedly as the suspect fired at Calhoun from his pickup.
Calhoun responded to a 911 cellphone call on Jan. 13 where no one answered the police dispatcher’s questions but an argument could be heard in the background, an investigator said. Authorities traced the call to the home of 43-year-old Jesse C. Navarro.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office charged Navarro with first-degree murder and the attempted murder of another deputy, related firearm enhancements, and the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer and firing from a motor vehicle, according to Amy McKenzie, director of communications for the DA’s Office.
The special circumstance allegations make Navarro eligible for the death penalty, she said. The DA has not yet made a decision whether to seek the death penalty.
“Navarro is accused of firing multiple shots at Deputy Calhoun when he responded to a call for assistance,” she said. “Navarro is also accused of shooting at another sworn peace officer, who was not struck by any rounds, as he arrived on the scene.”
An arrest warrant was also issued Monday for Navarro, who was shot and critically wounded by the second deputy, who was not named in the court documents.
Navarro remains in a hospital, McKenzie said. He’ll be scheduled for an arraignment once he is booked.
A statement by Jarred Bishop, an investigator with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, to support a search warrant revealed more details of what happened the afternoon of Jan. 13 in the 18000 block of Hilldale Lane in the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village.
Calhoun made contact with several people in the driveway including Navarro, who partially concealed himself behind the open door of his truck and held a handgun out of the deputy’s sight, according to Bishop.
Within 17 seconds of Calhoun arriving, he said Navarro started shooting at the deputy. Calhoun ran.
“Navarro then entered his truck, drove in the direction that Deputy Calhoun had fled, and continued to fire at Deputy Calhoun from the truck,” Bishop said.
Calhoun also shot toward Navarro several times but none of the rounds appeared to have injured the suspect, Bishop said.
Another deputy arrived at 4:35 p.m. and spotted Navarro in his truck toward the end of the street.
“This deputy gave Navarro multiple commands to comply and Navarro refused. Navarro exited his truck, still armed with a handgun, and fired multiple times toward this deputy,” Bishop said.
The deputy fired back several times, hitting Navarro.
In a later interview, the deputy indicated Navarro fired two to three rounds and that he heard the bullets pass closely by him over his head, Bishop said.
Calhoun, 30, died at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.