Riverside triple homicide suspect dead in Needles, authorities confirm

A suspect involved in a “lethal force encounter” with San Bernardino County deputies in Needles was pronounced dead at the scene on Friday, and was the man being sought in the deaths of three people found in a burning home in Riverside earlier that day, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials confirmed Saturday.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Gloria Huerta confirmed the man’s death but did not release his name or provide additional details about the encounter.

A female found in the vehicle with the suspect is safe with law enforcement, Huerta said. Her name and age were not given. It was not known if she was with the man voluntarily or taken by force. Riverside police were still investigating her role in the case, Riverside Officer Ryan Railsback said.

Police and firefighters were called to the home in the 11200 block of Price Court late Friday morning when someone asked for a welfare check after spotting a man and the female arguing near a car in front of the home, Railsback said.

A short time later, neighbors reported that the house was on fire and firefighters were told that someone might be inside, Fire Capt. Paul Seawright said. Firefighters found the three people in a room where the fire was burning.

What injuries the three suffered was not released by police, though Railsback said there was “clear evidence” they did not die as a result of the fire.

Neither Riverside police nor SBCSD provided additional updates as of Saturday morning. The identities of the three dead people have not been released pending notification of their relatives.

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