The news has sent shock waves through Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar. Founding senior pastor Reverend Ron Armstrong's 22-year-old son, Ryan Armstrong, was stabbed to death last Friday night outside E.T.'s Sports Lounge in Temecula.
Apparently a fight inside the bar spilled out into the parking lot, where two people were stabbed. A memorial now sits in front of the scene.
A 23-year-old man is in critical condition but is expected to survive. Armstrong died later in the hospital.
Sunday's services took on a somber tone as a grieving church community of several thousand tried to help their senior pastor deal with the loss of his son.
"The family is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances," said Pastor Baum "They have their times of emotion, obviously, but they're going to be doing just fine."
Armstrong was going to Chapman University in Orange. Police say there are no known gang affiliations. In fact, they say Armstrong might not have been personally involved in the conflict. Detectives say he was just trying to make peace between the two groups.
"This death of this 22-year-old has touched many, many lives throughout the Temecula Valley, we know he is the son of a pastor who has a large congregation, and we want to make sure we bring closure to this," said Riverside County Sheriff's Sergeant Dennis Gutierrez.
But police say they're close to solving this crime. They're hoping everyone involved in this fight will step forward.
"Get a hold of the police department and turn themselves in, because we have a good idea of who they are, they don't know we know -- better for themselves to turn themselves in," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the Riverside County Sheriff's Homicide Dept. at (951) 955-2777.
A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar.
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