Noah Ivancso

Noah Ivancso was remembered by his mother as a loving kid with a lot of friends. The 18-year-old male had attended Lakeside High School in his community of Lake Elsinore, California, and worked in construction. His mother, Christina Ivancso, described him as her only son, a young man who got along with everybody and whose life was just beginning. Loved ones recalled his beautiful soul, his politeness, and his intelligence.

On the afternoon of May 7, 2023, Noah was with a group of friends inside an apartment in the 33100 block of Jamieson Street, not far from the shore of the lake. According to his mother, who heard an account from one of Noah's friends, a conflict arose within the group. His mother was told the word "jealousy" was brought up as a possible factor. During the confrontation, which occurred just after 2 p.m., an individual pulled out a shotgun and shot Noah in the hip. Instead of calling for help, the people in the apartment scattered. It was a neighbor who finally called 911 about 20 minutes later. When paramedics arrived, it was too late; Noah Ivancso was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department launched a homicide investigation. Detectives interviewed witnesses and quickly identified a person of interest: Samuel Anthony Salazar, a 20-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore. The department publicly named Salazar and began searching for him for questioning in connection with Noah's death. In the days following the shooting, Noah’s mother grieved the loss of her son just before Mother's Day and began planning his funeral. A GoFundMe campaign was started to help the family with expenses.

Christina Ivancso made a public plea for justice, speaking directly to the person responsible. “Turn yourself in," she said in an interview. "I don’t think it’s fair you’re out there living your life while my son is not now. He was only 18 years old. He didn’t even get to live his life." For nearly three years, authorities continued their search for the suspect, making multiple unsuccessful attempts to locate him as a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A major development in the case came in January 2026. After an extensive investigation, detectives tracked Samuel Anthony Salazar, then 23, to the city of Hemet. He was arrested there without incident. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office subsequently charged Salazar with first-degree murder for the slaying of Noah Ivancso. The charges also included destroying incriminating evidence, along with sentence-enhancing allegations for using a gun and causing great bodily injury.

Salazar made his initial court appearance at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, where a public defender was appointed to represent him. A judge set his bail at $1 million, and he was booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside. As of January 2026, the case against Samuel Salazar is proceeding through the court system. The specific motive for the shooting has not been publicly disclosed by law enforcement. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office continues to ask anyone with information about the case to come forward.