A terrifying mass shooting in Southern California has left six teenagers hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, as authorities scramble to locate those responsible. The incident occurred late Saturday night, June 21, in Moreno Valley, a suburban city in Riverside County.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots fired at approximately 10:56 p.m. in the 12000 block of Orchid Lane. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male teen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near the intersection of Orchid Lane and Hemlock Avenue. While rendering aid to the first victim, deputies quickly found four additional teenage males nearby, all of whom had also sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The situation escalated further when a sixth victim, also in his teens, arrived at a local hospital shortly afterward. Investigators later confirmed that he too had been wounded in the same shooting. All six victims, aged between 14 and 18, were rushed to area hospitals and remain in critical condition as of the latest updates.
Authorities conducted a thorough search of the surrounding neighborhood but were unable to apprehend any suspects. As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made, and no suspect descriptions or potential motives have been publicly disclosed.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we are asking anyone who might have seen or heard anything to come forward,” said the sheriff’s office in a public statement. They urged anyone with information to contact Investigator Saul Fernandez at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at 951-486-6700.
The sheriff’s department has released minimal additional details about the nature of the shooting, and a spokesperson has not responded to requests for further comment.
This violent incident adds to a string of shootings that have occurred nationwide in recent days, heightening concerns over gun violence, especially among youth.
Just hours after the Moreno Valley attack, a separate shooting unfolded in Wayne, Michigan. A heavily armed man wearing a tactical vest opened fire outside a church filled with worshippers on Sunday morning. The suspect was ultimately killed by church security after being hit by a vehicle driven by a parishioner. One person was shot in the leg, but the roughly 150 people inside the church were otherwise unharmed.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, two people were shot and killed near the Bellagio Resort & Casino on Sunday night. Authorities say the attack stemmed from a social media feud between the victims and the shooter. Officers patrolling the Strip heard the gunfire and found both victims already deceased. The shooting is being treated as an isolated incident.
In another tragic case in Salt Lake City, a 39-year-old bystander was fatally shot during an anti-Trump demonstration on June 14. The suspect, reportedly targeting someone else, fired into the crowd with an AR-15-style rifle. The shooter, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, has since been arrested and charged with murder.
As the investigation in Moreno Valley continues, the community is left shaken by the violence that has hospitalized six local teenagers. Authorities remain hopeful that public assistance will help bring those responsible to justice.
