James Norman Obituary, Death; – On May 12, 2025, at 12:22 p.m., deputies from the Norco Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a business located in the 600 block of Hidden Valley Parkway, Norco, in response to a reported carjacking. Upon their arrival, deputies interviewed witnesses, examined video footage, and communicated details to nearby law enforcement agencies concerning the theft of a silver SUV.
During the course of the investigation, officers from the Corona Police Department reported that they had found an adult male with traumatic injuries indicative of having been ejected from a vehicle. This individual was discovered on Hidden Valley Parkway, east of the original incident site, and was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim was identified as 79-year-old James Norman, a resident of Corona. Investigators concluded that Norman was the victim of the carjacking and succumbed to the injuries sustained during the event. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation. During their inquiries, the victim’s SUV was found unoccupied at the intersection of Polk Street and Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.
Investigators collaborated closely with the Riverside Police Department and eventually apprehended a male suspect near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Tyler Street. Following further investigation, authorities identified 29-year-old Ryan Hewitt, a Corona resident, as the carjacking suspect. Hewitt was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of carjacking and murder. This case remains active and ongoing.
Currently, no additional suspects are believed to be involved, and no further information will be disclosed at this time. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about the incident to reach out to Central Homicide Master Investigator Deanne at (951) 955-2777 or Jurupa Valley Station Investigator Ramirez at (951) 955-2600.
