A California parolee who had been released from jail earlier this year randomly stabbed a Walmart clerk to death on Monday.
Lonnie Hinton, 29, handed himself into the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department following the unprovoked murder.
“This appears to be a random event, and there was no interaction between the suspect and the victim before the assault,” according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, arrived at the Walmart at 7 a.m. after receiving reports of a dangerous weapon assault.
Officers arrived to find Jessica Morales, 65, a Menifee resident, with several stab wounds, according to the sheriff’s department. Morales received medical assistance but died in the store.
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“She was a very good person. Great friend. “Everybody loved her,” said one of Morales’ coworkers, who requested anonymity, to Fox Los Angeles. According to a coworker, Morales has worked at Walmart for almost 25 years. Later that day, Hinton surrendered to authorities at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station. He was detained on suspicion of murder and lodged in the Cois Byrd Detention Centre.
Hinton was freed from the state prison earlier this year. He had been serving time for robbery. He was on parole at the time of the killing. The killer’s motive was not revealed. Walmart stated it was “heartbroken” by Morales’ death.
“The facility will remain closed as we work with police during their investigation,” the retail company stated in a statement. “We offer our condolences and support to the family during this difficult time and will continue working with our associates, providing support as needed.”