Colorful regalia and tradition shine at Pechanga Pow Wow weekend, A-8
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Former area standouts shine in Holiday Bowl clash, A-11
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES January 10 – 16, 2025
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Education Murrieta Valley students honored in December Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News
Volume 25, Issue 2
Attendees brave the chill for charity at Valley-Wide’s Polar Plunge
The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program held its December breakfast celebration at the Murrieta Sizzler restaurant, 40489 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Dec. 21. Emcee Mary Walters welcomed everyone to the event that celebrates and honors outstanding students who make a significant difference in their schools and community. see page A-12
Regional News Tribal Casinos file suit against California cardrooms, including Lake Elsinore Valley Editorial staf f
SACRAMENTO – On January 2, seven gaming tribes, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court against over 70 California cardrooms, including Lake Elsinore Casino Cardroom. The lawsuit, filed under Senate Bill 549 (SB 549), alleges that the cardrooms are offering banked games in violation of state law and tribal gaming rights.
Arthur Gentilezo races down the water slide into the pool at the Diamond Valley Aquatic Center in Hemet during the annual Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District Polar Plunge. The annual event raises money for local nonprofit organizations. More photos on page A-7. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Man arrested for murder following Temecula shooting
Sheriff requests help to solve Aguana mass murder case
see page B-4
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business .......................... A-10 Business Directory ........... A-10
Classifieds ....................... A-11 Education ........................ A-12 Entertainment ...................A-8 Health ...............................A-7 Legal Notices .....................B-6 Local ................................A-1 Opinion.............................B-5
Regional News ...................B-4 Sports .............................. A-11
Micah Harris, 22, was arrested without incident in the shooting death of another male on Jan. 4. Valley News/Courtesy photo
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Valley Editorial Staf f
The victim of a shooting Saturday morning, Jan. 4, was identified Monday as 39-year-old Aaron Bowers of Temecula. Twenty-two-year-old Micah Harris of Temecula was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly shooting and killing Bowers inside a residence on Josheroo Court, in Temecula, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s press release. Kristina Lindsey, Bowers’s sister, organized a GoFundMe for the burial. As of Monday night, about $7400 had been raised. Lindsey wrote, “We are working to raise funds for the funeral and burial arrangements for my brother, Aaron Bowers. Any additional proceeds will go directly to his children. Please pray for Aaron, his children, his parents, and all others who are grieving.” Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Southwest Station responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call at 4:59 a.m. in the 32900 block of Josheroo Court. The caller, identified as Micah Harris, told dispatchers he had just shot another adult male inside the home. When deputies arrived, Harris was detained without incident. They see MURDER, page A-2
The seven murder victims in the 2020 Aguanga mass murder case. On January 3, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco held a press conference to request help from the public regarding the September 7, 2020, Aguanga mass murder. Central Homicide Unit investigators began the investigation into the mass murder that occurred in the 45000 block of Highway 371, Aguanga. A total of seven victims were shot to death while they slept in what appeared to be a home invasion robbery of an illicit marijuana operation. Over 1,000 marijuana plants and several hundred pounds of processed marijuana were located at the scene. All of the victims were of Laotian descent. Money that would have been expected to have been at the scene was missing. Sheriff Bianco said the victims working at the scene are believed to be human trafficking victims. Bianco said the Laotian community is very tight and he believes they know who did this, know the suspects, and he encouraged those with information to come forward. He said they are afraid of retribution. “They are being victimized by the same people over and over and
they need to help us put these people in prison where they belong.” Sheriff Bianco said that they have located several people of interest and need people who may have information to come forward. He explained that the migrant community may be hesitant to speak with authorities and assured them that they could safely come forward. They believe there are at least three suspects and they were there for about 15 minutes. They believe the suspects are part of a Laotian street gang from San Diego. Bianco said, there were several people who survived the attack. “When the gunshots starting ringing out everyone fled. As awful as seven people dead sounds, it could have been worse.” He continued, saying it was such a gruesome crime scene that they lost an officer afterwards. “Over the past four years, multiple leads have been identified and followed up on by the investigative team. Investigators believe that this was a targeted incident involving gang members of a Laotian descent from the San Diego area. Investi-
Valley News/Courtesy photo gators have also identified one of the suspect vehicles used in this incident as a mid-size dark colored SUV.” The SUV was later found to have been totaled after the incident and was unavailable for evidence. He said, “Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in solving this murder. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Unit Master Investigator Victor Magana or Master Investigator Ryan Deanne at (951) 955-2777 or by email vmmagana@riversidesheriff.org.” Individuals can also submit information through the Sheriff’s Office Online Tip Line https:// mobile.catapultems.com/riversidecounty-sheriff/rsd/Report/English/ law-homicides. Additional details from January 3rd press conference: On Monday, September 7, 2020, at 12:33 AM, deputies responded to a residence in the 45000 block of Highway 371 in the unincorporated area of Aguanga, for a report of an Assault with a Deadly see AGUANGA, page A-2