Benjamin Chanes

Friends and family knew Benjamin Chanes as a happy, outgoing, and selfless young man with a big heart and a beautiful, contagious smile. The 24-year-old male resident of Riverside, California, was known for his generosity, sometimes blessing families in need during the holidays. Loved ones described him as an artist, a singer, a loving son, and a protector who would go above and beyond for the people he cared about.

On the afternoon of March 6, 2022, Benjamin and his girlfriend were driving in Riverside when they stopped after exiting the freeway. Four men armed with handguns immediately approached their car, ordering Benjamin out at gunpoint. The assailants kidnapped the couple, forcing Benjamin into his girlfriend's car while she was put into their vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala. They drove to the couple's apartment in the 2400 block of Iowa Avenue. There, the men pushed the girlfriend into a closet while they ransacked the home, demanding to know where the money was. At one point, Benjamin bolted from the apartment in an attempt to escape, but the men gave chase. One of the suspects opened fire, striking Benjamin in the back. He collapsed on the sidewalk and was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. His girlfriend was not physically harmed. The suspects fled in the couple's vehicle, which was later recovered in San Bernardino.

Detectives from the Riverside Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit launched an extensive investigation. By reviewing surveillance footage and following up on numerous leads over several months, they were able to identify four suspects involved in the deadly home invasion. The first arrests were made in September 2022. Anthony Wright, a 30-year-old from Indio, was already in custody in San Bernardino County on unrelated charges. Qevon Xavier Harvey, a 25-year-old from Desert Hot Springs, was located and taken into custody.

The final two suspects were apprehended in February 2023. Trezell Lamone Heckard, a 28-year-old from Vallejo, was arrested in Contra Costa County. The fourth man, 28-year-old Kahlin Cynque Erwin of Pittsburg, was located in Texas and extradited to California. All four men were charged with murder, kidnapping, carjacking, and home invasion robbery.

The cases proceeded to court with different outcomes for each defendant. Trezell Lamone Heckard was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, carjacking, burglary, and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a burglary. The jury for Qevon Xavier Harvey was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial being declared in his case. As of February 2026, the trial for Anthony Wright was tentatively scheduled to begin.