Full Notification

DATE/TIME: May 21, 2018 8:14 pm UPDATE: May 23, 2018

INCIDENT: Suicidal Subject Armed with a Gun
Murder 
Deputy Involved Shooting 

LOCATION: Yucca Trail and La Contenta Road, Joshua Tree

VICTIM: Ronda Ebeling, age 23 a resident of Joshua Tree 
(deceased - shot by suspect, Ray Wyatt) 

SUSPECT: Ray Wyatt, age 58 a resident of Joshua Tree (deceased)

SUMMARY: UPDATE: May 23, 2018
The victim has been identified as Ronda Ebeling of Joshua Tree. The suspect has been identified as Ray Wyatt also a resident of Joshua Tree.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Floyd Stone at (909)387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 
1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

******
On Monday, May 21, 2018, at 8:14 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from a reporting party who stated he was on an open phone line with the victim.  The victim told the reporting party that she was going to meet with the suspect, an ex-boyfriend, in a remote location.  The reporting party was concerned because he could hear the female screaming and he believed she was being assaulted. The reporting party could also hear a male, making statements that he was in possession of a gun.  Dispatch was advised that the subjects were in a dirt field in the area of Yucca Trail and La Contenta Road.  When deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station arrived, they saw the victim and suspect in a dirt field standing outside a vehicle.  As deputies attempted to contact them, the suspect shot the victim in the upper body.  A deputy-involved shooting occurred and the suspect fled the location on foot.  Additional deputies arrived on scene, as deputies were searching the desert area for the suspect, they located him near a bush and a second deputy-involved shooting occurred.  The suspect was struck by gunfire and pronounced deceased at the scene.  Emergency medical personnel transported the victim to a local area hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.  The victim was pronounced deceased at approximately 9:35 pm. 
 
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail responded to the location and are currently conducting the investigation.  The motive for the shooting is under investigation.
 
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Floyd Stone at (909)387-3589.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at
1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
 
Refer:             Detective Floyd Stone or Sergeant Mike Walker  
Station:           Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail
Phone No.     (909)387-3589
Case No.       231800943 / H2018-041
    
John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department