Jessica Morales, Menifee, California woman and Lake Elsinore Walmart worker randomly stabbed to death by recent parolee, Lonnie Hinton of Wildomar, California. No known motive.
A Walmart worker in California has died after she was ‘randomly’ stabbed to death by a formerly convicted felon who had only recently been out on parole.
Jessica Morales, 65, of Menifee, a store worker in Lake Elsinore was allegedly stabbed to death by Lonnie Hinton, 29, of Wildomar, as he entered the retail outlet Monday morning, circa 7am according to a release from the the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Upon ‘randomly’ stabbing his victim ‘multiple times’ in an ‘unprovoked attack’, Hinton is alleged to have walked away.
Convicted in 2020 for robbery
Morales, who had worked for Walmart for over 25 years, died at the scene. Hinton turned himself in later that day.
The tragedy comes just on five months after Hinton having been released from state prison and making parole following a prior robbery conviction
Hinton was released from prison on March 23 after serving time on burglary and robbery convictions for stabbing an employee at a California restaurant in 2020, according to KABC-TV News.
The sheriff’s office said he was still on parole when the fatal attack took place on Monday.
‘This appears to be a random event and there was no interaction between the suspect and the victim prior to the assault,’ the sheriff’s department said.
‘There are no outstanding suspects in this case. Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released.’
Upon his arrest, Hinton was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center and charged with first-degree murder, according to inmate search records. He remains held without bail.
Morales ‘was a really good person,’ one store employee told Fox News. ‘Great friend. Everybody loved her.’
Walmart offered condolences to Morales’ family.
No known motive
‘The facility will remain closed as we work with police during their investigation,’ the company said in a statement to Fox. ‘We offer our condolences and support to the family during this difficult time and will continue working with our associates, providing support as needed.’
An online fundraiser for Morales had collected more than $8,300 by Wednesday morning.
‘This GoFundMe is to help her three children take care of her memorial and what she needs provided for in her wake without the financial burden,’ the page reads.
Hinton’s first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.
No motive for the killing was disclosed.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.
Lake Elsinore, 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
