City of Corona

For Immediate Release                                                                                                              
Case #19-18589 
September 21, 2019 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT  

CORONA, CA – On September 21, 2019, at about 4:20 p.m. Corona Police Dispatch received a 911 call from a resident within the 2000 Block of Picadilly Way, Corona. The caller stated a male and female were involved in a physical altercation in front of a home. Shortly thereafter, the female victim also dialed 911 and explained that her estranged husband had physically assaulted her, poured gasoline on her body and threatened to light her on fire. The victim sustained minor physical injuries and was treated at the scene.    

Upon arrival officers contacted a male, later identified as 56-year-old Richard Herrera, inside the garage. Richard refused to follow the officer’s directions, poured what was believed to be gasoline on himself, and retreated into the home. 

An evacuation of the surrounding area was ordered and the Corona Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) and Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) were activated, along with our partners from Corona Fire Department. All subsequent attempts to contact Richard and negotiate his surrender were met with negative results. At about 10 p.m., members of the Special Response Team entered the home where Richard was found to be deceased by apparent suicide. The Riverside County Coroners Department responded and continued the investigation. 

If you have any information about this incident, please contact Lt. Paul Mercado at 951-736-2345 or by email at Paul.Mercado@CoronaCA.gov 

About the City of Corona: Corona is located adjacent to Orange County California at the junction of the 91 and 15 freeways with a population of more than 160,000 residents. For more information regarding the City of Corona visit www.CoronaCA.gov.  

Media Contact
Detective Carbajal
Public Information Officer  
951-736-2330 
Jessica.Carbajal@CoronaCA.gov  

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