Javier Montero, 36, of Wildomar, California, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of July 17, 2016, on the 300 block of Avenue 5 in Lake Elsinore. His death was one of five killings in the area over less than a month, a string of violence that unsettled the community and prompted a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.

No arrests had been announced in connection with Montero’s killing as of the most recent reports. The series of homicides prompted local debate about possible causes, with residents pointing to crime, drug use, and homelessness while others said the city remained relatively safe and the incidents were anomalies.

The investigation into Montero’s murder did not produce immediate results and many questions remained unanswered. If anyone knew Javier, saw activity on Avenue 5 that night, or has information that could help investigators, please come forward.