JOSHUA TREE – A 23-year-old Joshua Tree woman was shot and killed by her 58-year-old ex-boyfriend who was then shot by responding deputies.
On Monday, May 21, 2018, at around 8:15 p.m. a reporting party called 911 to report a possible assault. The reporting party told dispatchers that he was on the phone with the victim, Ronda Ebeling told him that she was going to meet her ex-boyfriend, Ray Wyatt in a remote location near Yucca Trail and La Contenta Road.
The reporting party said that he was on an open line with the victim and could hear her screaming and the male saying that he was in the possession of a gun. Deputies responded to the area and saw the victim and the suspect standing outside of the vehicle in a dirt field. Just as deputies attempted to make contact with the two, the suspect shot the woman in the upper body. The deputies shot at the suspect, but they missed and he fled on foot. Additional deputies arrived and an area search of the desert area was conducted. The suspect was located near a bush and the deputies again shooting at the suspect.
The suspect was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. The female was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. The motive of the shooting is unknown.
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.
