Cold Case Homicide Arrest 

April 1, 2025 – Riverbank County Sheriff's Office officials report that on November 6, 2019, deputies assigned to the Perris Sheriff’s Station responded to a shooting in the 200 block of East 7th Street in Perris. Upon arrival, they located three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. One of those individuals, later identified as 22-year-old Santiago Diaz, a resident of Perris, was declared deceased at the scene. The two other individuals were transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators assigned to the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. Unfortunately, after extensive investigation, the case went cold without an arrest.

In late 2024, Central Homicide Unit investigators began a review of this investigation. This review identified new evidence, and the investigation was reopened. Investigators identified Jeremy Whittle, a 26-year-old resident of Perris, as one of the suspects in this murder. On March 27, 2025, Whittle was arrested for his involvement in this murder and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center. This investigation is currently ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Master Investigator S. Denham or Master Investigator V. Magana of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Jarred Bishop

File# PE193100115

Source & photo: Riverbank County Sheriff's Office