In a distressing incident in Riverside, California, a confrontation escalated into violence, resulting in one fatality and another person critically injured. Christopher Jacob Lennox, 27, has been arrested following a dispute that culminated in the shooting of his girlfriend and the fatal shooting of his roommate.
The incident unfolded in the afternoon hours of Sunday, when Riverside Police were summoned to a residence located in the 7600 block of Canberra Way after reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers were directed to Lennox, who was swiftly detained at the scene.
Within the home, authorities discovered 75-year-old Robert Joe Mageno suffering from multiple gunshot injuries. Despite immediate life-saving attempts by the responding officers and Riverside Fire Department paramedics, Mageno was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a related discovery, Lennox’s girlfriend was found injured from gunshots across the street from the residence. She was promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition. The investigation suggests that the altercation began while the woman was visiting Lennox, leading to a heated argument that tragically escalated.
According to the Riverside Police Department, Lennox retrieved a firearm during the dispute and shot his girlfriend. As she fled the scene, Mageno, who shared the residence with Lennox, entered the vicinity and was also shot.
Lennox is currently being held on $1 million bail and faces charges including murder, attempted murder, domestic violence, and weapons violations. The handgun believed to have been used in the shootings was recovered by the police.
This devastating event has left the Riverside community in shock as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances that led to this violent confrontation.