July 21, 2024 - Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 9:32 p.m., deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to an assault with a deadly weapon call within a business parking lot of the 31000 block of Riverside Drive, Lake Elsinore. Upon deputies’ arrival, they located an adult male with several stab wounds. Deputies provided medical attention to the male and requested medical personnel to respond. The male ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Deputies developed suspect information and a direction of travel in which he fled after the stabbing. The suspect was soon located fleeing into an apartment complex in the 16000 block of Joy Street. The suspect, later identified as Steven Smith, a 50-year-old male from Lake Elsinore, was detained without further incident inside the apartment complex. The scene was secured, and the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

Smith was later arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for murder. The identity of the victim will be withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time. There are no additional suspects believed to be outstanding.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator D. Robertson of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Contreras of the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951-245-3300.
Source and photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Office