TEMECULA, Calif. (KGTV) - Riverside County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a homicide near a Temecula Walmart store.
Investigators responded to a report of an assault just after 12 p.m. in the retail center located in the 32200 block of Temecula Parkway. The center is home to a Walmart Supercenter and other retail and restaurant locations.
When deputies arrived, a person was found at the scene and later pronounced dead, according to officials. The man, a 19-year-old, was identified as Kevin Rodriguez.
Temecula Police said an altercation started between two men outside the shopping center property and continued into the center's parking lot.
Rodriguez sustained a stab wound. He was brought to a nearby hospital and later died as result of their injuries.
"It's very hard. My son was a good boy, he had lots of friend," Rodriguez's mother, Traci said. "I miss him so much."
One person has been detained, though no arrests have been made. Despite social media rumors, police said the argument between the two men did not begin over a parking spot.
Atticus, Rodriguez's father, says Kevin and his girlfriend were on their way to the Rodriguez house to celebrate a birthday.
"That's when they first discovered this guy, when he was honking at a lady trying to cross the street and just driving erratic and almost hit them in the car," he said.
The altercation then spilled over into the Walmart parking lot.
"Turned him around and grabbed him by the neck and when (Kevin) realized what was going on he tried to break free but the guy had already stabbed him," Atticus said.
He was rushed to a hospital but he died of his injuries.
As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's officials were still on scene investigating. They said there was no active threat to the public, but asked the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
Both Riverside Sheriff's and Temecula Police homicide detectives are investigating the death.
