Female Walmart Employee Stabbed to Death in Store

INCIDENT DATE/TIME: 8-5-24, 7 a.m.
LOCATION: 29000 block of Central Avenue
AREA/CITY: Lake Elsinore
DETAILS:

PRESS RELEASE

On August 5, 2024, at 7:00 a.m., deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to a business located in the 29000 block of Central Avenue, Lake Elsinore, in reference to an assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies arrived on scene and located a female employee, later identified as Jessica Morales, a 65-year-old from Menifee, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Deputies rendered medical aid to the female until medical personnel arrived. The victim was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

The suspect later turned himself in at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station and was identified as Lonnie Hinton, a 29-year-old male from Wildomar. Investigators arrested Hinton for murder, and he was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center. Investigators learned that Hinton was released from state prison earlier this year for a robbery and was on active parole at the time of this incident.

This appears to be a random event, and there was no interaction between the suspect and the victim prior to the assault. There are no outstanding suspects in this case. Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator K. Farag or Investigator D. Robertson of the Central Homicide Unit at 951–955–2777.

ADDITIONAL INFO BELOW

“Investigators learned that Hinton was released from state prison earlier this year for a robbery and was on active parole at the time of this incident,” Bishop said in a statement.

The victim had worked for Walmart for over 25 years and was a loving mother and supportive friend, a co-worker who asked not to be identified told Fox 11.

“She was a really good person. Great friend. Everybody loved her,” the coworker said. “You’re here to work and try to help customers, not for you to be stabbed or insulted, you know? You want to be safe where you work and you’re not.”

Anyone with information regarding the fatal stabbing was urged to call Investigator K. Farag or Investigator D. Robertson of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

HANDLING AGENCIES: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office

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