Male shot, killed during large party on Menifee street

Cleary Street is taped off and investigative tools sit in the street in front of the scene of a fatal shooting. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

Story updated at 2:30 p.m.:

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect who shot and killed a male victim during a large party at a Menifee residence late Friday night.

The shooting occurred shortly before midnight near the corner of Michener Drive and Cleary Street, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. Police arrived at 12:10 a.m. to locate a gunshot victim. Officers performed life-saving measures but the victim died from injuries sustained from the shooting.

The suspect is still at large, according to a news update by the Sheriff's Department Saturday afternoon. Investigators were on scene throughout the night and morning and are following up on leads. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Stoyer with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Detective Salisbury with the Menifee Police Department at 951-210-1000.

The identity of the victim has not been released.

Tim Cluney, who lives across the street, said a couple walked over from that house Friday morning to notify neighbors that a large party would be held that night. A couple who rents the home were out of town on vacation, he said.

"They said, 'Were having a party for someone graduating from Paloma Valley,' " Cluney told Menifee 24/7. "I said, 'There's no graduation there tonight.' They said, 'Well, it's a pre-graduation party.' "

Cluney said cars started arriving about 7 p.m and filled streets in the area. He said there was not a lot of loud music and he didn't notice anything unusual until hearing a single gunshot a little before midnight.

"After that, there were tires screeching, cars leaving," he said. "The next thing, police were there."

Laurie McKibben, who lives a few doors down on Cleary Street, said she did not hear a gunshot, but she heard a lot of cars speeding up and down the street and "a lot of screaming" sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight.

"Someone was screaming, 'Get in the car, he's dead in my arms!' " McKibben said.

Cluney said a shell casing remains in the middle of the street. Investigators continued to process the scene Saturday morning.

"I've been here 20 years, and nothing like this has ever happened," McKibben said. "This neighborhood has been really quiet."