CRIME: The victim's two roommates are unhurt in the early-morning robbery in the La Sierra area.
BY LISA O'NEILL HILL
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
RIVERSIDE
A 25-year-old Riverside man was shot and killed early Tuesday during a home-invasion robbery in his La Sierra home. Two roommates also were awakened at gunpoint but were unharmed, police said.
Nathan Deutsch
Nathan Deutsch was pronounced dead inside the home in the 2900 block of Cody Court. Police received a 911 call about 4:38 a.m. One of the roommates had gone across the street to summon help, authorities said.
Officers arriving at the house found Deutsch inside a front bedroom. One of the roommates is believed to have witnessed the shooting, detectives said.
Riverside police Sgt. John De La Rosa said police believe the assailants went to the four-bedroom home to rob the men. Investigators are still trying to determine whether one of the three was the specific target.
"We don't believe it was random," De La Rosa said. He declined to elaborate and said police are unsure what the robbers were looking for.
The victims were in different rooms of the house when the robbers entered. Police said they are unsure how the men got inside.
The robbers woke up the residents and moved them from room to room, De La Rosa said.
The robbers covered their faces, De La Rosa said. He would not say what they used to hide their identities.
Each robber was armed with a handgun, and one may also have had an assault rifle, De La Rosa said.
Friends console each other after discovering that Nathan Deutsch, 25, was shot to death in his Riverside home during a robbery early Tuesday. (SILVIA FLORES / THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE)
It was also unclear Tuesday why Deutsch was shot.
Deutsch, who was crowned junior class prince at Arlington High School's 1992-93 homecoming court, had graduated from the school in 1994.
"He was a good athlete, a very personable kid. He was a good all-around kid who went on to get his college degree," said Arlington High School Assistant Principal Charles Chapman. "He used to stop by the school from time to time to say hi."
The home where Deutsch lived with two roommates had been put on the market about six weeks ago, according to Vickie Rainwater, a Century 21 real estate agent.
Rainwater said she met the roommates when she went to the house to put it on the market.
"They were extremely well-mannered. I can honestly say that," she said.
Paul Techton, who lives on Cody Court, described the neighborhood as quiet and middle-class. He said most of residents own their homes and keep them tidy.
"I didn't expect to see this this morning," he said.
Another neighbor, Rory Ashwood, 29, said the three roommates had lived in the home for about six months. He said he was surprised at what happened.
"It's one of those cul de sacs full of kids," Ashwood said. "That's the whole reason I moved up here."
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Steve Shumway at 320-8011 or Detective Ron Sanfilippo at 320-8051.
Staff Writer Louise Knott Ahern contributed to this report.
Lisa O'Neill Hill can be reached by e-mail at loneillhill@pe.com or by phone at (909) 248-6160.
Published 5/2/2001
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