A teenage boy who was found dead in Mecca was identified Thursday, and authorities asked for the public’s help to locate his alleged killer.
Francisco Ramirez, 17, of Mecca was found dead in the early morning hours of March 25.
Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station responded at 12:05 a.m. that day to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 71000 block of Miramar Drive in Mecca, according to Sgt. Jarred Bishop of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
As deputies investigated, evidence of a shooting was found in the 99000 block of Via Costa Brava, but no victim or suspect were located.
“As the investigation continued, information was developed that led investigators to locate a deceased male in the area of Sea View Way and 72nd Avenue (in North Shore),” Bishop said in a statement. “This deceased male is believed to be connected to the original assault with a deadly weapon call.”
The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit subsequently responded to the scene and took over the investigation, Bishop said.
On Thursday, sheriff’s officials identified the suspect in the killing as 20-year-old Mecca resident David Espinoza, who remains at large. No details were released on Espinoza’s alleged ties to the crime or the victim.
Espinoza is wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for an unrelated robbery and for assault with a deadly weapon.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to call Master Investigator R. Deanne of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator P. Lorton of the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at 760-863-8990.