Community mourns Riverside County deputy killed in Lake Elsinore shooting

A Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot in Lake Elsinore on Friday has died from his injuries, authorities confirm.

The deputy has been identified as Darnell Calhoun, 30.

“We are devastated to announce the passing of Deputy Darnell Calhoun who was killed in the line of duty this afternoon,” said the sheriff’s department.

The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. in the 18500 block of Hilldale Lane, a residential area.

“I shouldn’t be here tonight, having to do this again,” said Sheriff Chad Bianco at a Friday night press conference. “I am devastated to tell of the loss of another one of our deputy sheriffs who was killed in the line of duty.”

Calhoun was responding to a call involving domestic violence and a child custody incident at the time, said Bianco.

During that initial call, deputies reported hearing voices in the background indicating a possible struggle.

Calhoun was the first to arrive at the scene. When he arrived, the suspect began shooting at him, deputies said. Authorities are still investigating the events between when Calhoun arrived and when he was shot.

As a second deputy arrived, they found Calhoun wounded on the street. A gunfight between the second deputy and the suspect ensued, Bianco said.

Calhoun was transported to the Inland Valley Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.

The suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Jesse Navarro of Lake Elsinore, was shot and transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.

No further details on the suspect or the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting were released.

Calhoun began his career in law enforcement with the San Diego Police Department where he worked for two years before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore station in February 2022.

Calhoun is the father of two young boys — a 4-year-old and a two-year-old. He was about to welcome a third baby boy before he died. He is survived by his wife and family.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference Friday night, providing more details on the deadly incident:

“We are sadly in a time where there is a growing population that has absolutely zero respect for other people,” said Bianco. “They have zero respect for authority. They have zero respect for law enforcement and nationwide, we are confronting these situations with armed individuals over what seem to be minor disagreements, who are willing to engage with law enforcement in life and death gun battles.”

The shooting comes two weeks after another Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy, Isaiah Cordero, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley. The gunman later died after a pursuit that culminated in a shootout with law enforcement.

The San Diego Police Department released a statement saying, “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Deputy Darnell Calhoun, an SDPD officer until 2022. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, & colleagues in SDPD and RSO.”

Lake Elsinore is located approximately 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

A procession followed Calhoun’s body being transferred from the Wildomar hospital to the coroner’s office in Perris late Friday night.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Association has started a fund to help the Calhoun family. They released a statement saying in part:

“Deputy Darnell Calhoun answered the call to serve, defend and protect our community. Within a span of two weeks, Riverside County has lost another hero way too early in life. To Darnell, being a Police Officer in San Diego and Deputy in Riverside was about making the community a better and safer place for everyone. Our heart aches for the family, friends, and fellow deputies of Darnell Calhoun, and we ask everyone to take a moment to remember his selfless service.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact DA Investigator Mario Moreno at 951-334-0407 or by email at mariomoreno@rivcoda.org. The public can also contact Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigator Jarred Bishop at 951-955-1700.