Giovanni Martinez, 30, was found fatally wounded the night of August 7, 2025, at the intersection of Woodward Street and Elizabeth Street in the unincorporated Mead Valley area of Perris. Deputies responded at 8:49 p.m. for reports of an assault with a deadly weapon; Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. The Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation amid a heavy patrol presence and crime-scene tape.

Detectives canvassed the block and collected statements, tracing the violence toward a single suspect. On August 9, 2025, investigators identified Raul Joe Varela, 51, of Turlock, as the man they believed responsible. Deputies located Varela in Mead Valley near Woodward and Elizabeth and took him into custody without incident. By August 11–13, authorities had publicly linked Martinez to the shooting and confirmed Varela was arrested, booked, and held at the Robert Presley Detention Center on a murder charge with $1 million bail; no motive has been shared.

Anyone who saw or heard anything around Woodward and Elizabeth on August 7 is asked to come forward with information?