Politics & Government

Temecula Music Store Killing: Citizens Call on City for Reward

Several members of the public came forward during Tuesday's Temecula City Council meeting, pleading for reward money to be offered in the March 22 killing of musician Larry Robinson.

A reward should be offered, say some, while Temecula city officials remain confident the suspect or suspects will be brought to justice.

Several members of the public came forward during Tuesday’s Temecula City Council meeting, pleading for the City to offer reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the brutal killing of a Temecula musician.

The evening of March 22, at Pete’s Music & Guitar Shop, 28780 Old Town Front St.

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Since that terrible night, there have been no arrests or leads in the case publicized by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Central Homicide Unit, which is investigating Robinson’s death.

Longtime Temecula resident and activist Linda McDonald on Tuesday was among those who requested a reward be posted. She called for $10,000.

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“...The longer we wait to apprehend those responsible for this act, the colder the trail goes,” McDonald said to council members.

Resident and well-known local musician Tim Cash also pleaded.

“It has been three weeks since the homicide robbery,” Cash said. “The only way to bring about justice for this case is to bring a reward...to catch these monsters.”

Robinson’s death was personal for many. He was known for giving advice not only to accomplished but new musicians.

A more well-known figure in the community, Matthew Stone, who serves as the general manager for Rancho California Water District, told council members he first met Robinson nearly five years ago. Stone said he had recently moved to Temecula and had decided to take up an instrument.

“...I asked at work and everyone said, 'Go see Larry Robinson at Pete’s Music,'” Stone said. They ended up talking for hours, he said.

Stone said Robinson’s unexpected death shocked many people, including himself.

“We needed to pull together quickly and just a day and a half later, a vigil was pulled together and 500 people showed up,” Stone said. “...But there is a role for the city here, and the role for the city is public safety...And so what you can do is a reward.”

Stone said the benefit of a reward would be that it would save “hundreds of hours of police work.” It would also say to businesses that the city does “have your back,” he said.

Despite public pleas voiced at the last two meetings, members of City Council said there are no immediate plans to offer a reward.

“Right now the Police Department—the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit—is using every resource available to them, and if we come to the point where a reward is needed or helpful we will do that,” said Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar. “It is something that is monitored daily.”

Naggar said contrary to what some members of the public may believe, not immediately offering a reward is not because they don’t care.

“...Everything we do [for this city] demonstrates we care, and if I thought a reward was needed right this minute, I would do it.”

Councilman Chuck Washington echoed Naggar’s statements.

“Several of us have wanted to take exactly that avenue...We have been assured every resource has been allocated to it,” Washington said. “(This) is shocking, (this) is not Temecula; it doesn’t represent what we are about—we don’t allow thugs to come into Temecula and beat people to death.”

When contacted Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said there were no new announcements to make regarding the case.

“CHU (Cental Homicide Unit) is very careful not to discuss details outside of their office in order to protect the integrity of their case,” wrote sheriff’s Sgt. Lisa McConnell in an emailed response to Patch.

She was not aware of any pending rewards.

“As far as rewards are concerned they are usually offered through private parties, nonprofit organizations—such as crime stoppers, cities, and/or counties. We are not involved in offering rewards,” McConnell wrote.

Anyone who may have information regarding the incident was encouraged to call Investigator Baeza at the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Williams at the Southwest Sheriff's Station at 951-696-3000.


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