Incident: Homicide Investigation
Date / Time: September 20, 2026 / 08:15 a.m.
Location: 1200 block of S. Verde Ave., Rialto, CA 92376
Case: 932611950
Victim: Thomas Mike Jesus Leyva, 49-year-old resident of Rialto (Deceased)
Suspect: Jonathan De La Cruz, 37-year-old resident of Perris, CA
Information:
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Rialto Police Department Communications Center received reports of a physical altercation involving two male subjects.
Officers arrived within three minutes of the call and located two injured subjects, identified as Leyva and De La Cruz. Both subjects received medical treatment at the scene from Rialto Police Officers and Rialto Fire Department paramedics.
Leyva was transported to a local trauma center, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by medical staff. De La Cruz was also transported to the trauma center for non-life-threatening injuries to his head and face. After receiving medical treatment, De La Cruz was taken into custody for PC 187(a), murder, based on the initial findings at the scene.
Through eyewitness statements and physical evidence recovered at the scene, investigators determined that a verbal altercation began between Leyva and De La Cruz and escalated into a physical altercation. During the physical altercation, De La Cruz sustained an injury to the head, and Leyva sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest.
The Rialto Police Department is asking anyone with information related to this incident to contact Corporal Anthony Glass at (909) 820-2520. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through WeTip at (800) 782-7463 related to Rialto PD report number 92611950. Please direct any media inquiries to Sgt. Nic Parcher at (909) 771-9016
Sgt. Nic Parcher
Investigations Bureau
[email protected]
MARK P. KLING, Chief of Police
Rialto Police Department
