Claremont man accused of murder

Claremont resident Jeffrey Alexander Calzada, 25, has been charged with murder in the death of a woman who was found suffering a traumatic injury inside a car parked outside Murrieta City Hall, next to the police station, at 10:35 a.m. Friday, August. 12.

Calzada appeared in Pomona Superior Court Tuesday, August 16, where through his public defender he asked that his arraignment be continued until September 19. The judge granted the request.

Claremont police are still not releasing the name of the victim as the case is still under investigation. They did confirm the victim was 20 years old and did not live in Claremont at the time of her death. Multiple public social media posts have indicated she was a 2020 Claremont High School graduate.

Police say the woman sustained her injuries in Claremont. The Valley Times reports that when Murrieta police responded August 12, they discovered a body in a white late model Hyundai Elantra.

Calzada is being held in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Reception Center in L.A. in lieu of $2,000,000 bail.

Claremont police told the COURIER Calzada’s murder charge may be amended as the investigation unfolds and Calzada’s attorney and the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office begin negotiating. The CPD representative said there has been talk of tacking on a stalking charge, but the investigation hasn’t yet determined whether the case “meets the elements of stalking.” Ultimately it will be the D.A.’s decision, he added.

After the 10:35 a.m. 911 call on August 12, “Officers from the Murrieta Police Department and paramedics from Murrieta Fire and Rescue responded and found a female suffering from a traumatic injury in a vehicle in the parking lot of Murrieta City Hall, next to the police station,” according to a news release from Claremont Police Department Lieutenant Karlan Bennett.

Paramedics began life saving measures, but she was pronounced dead. Calzada was detained by police at the scene and later arrested. Following an investigation that continued through Monday, August 15, he was charged with murder.

At 1:37 p.m. Friday, August 12, Claremont police were informed by Pomona police about a possible homicide in Claremont earlier that day. At first officers believed the incident occurred near Foothill Blvd. and Garey Ave., near the Claremont/Pomona border. Detectives from both Claremont and Pomona police responded to assist Murrieta officers. As the investigation progressed it revealed the alleged crime occurred somewhere in Claremont.

This story will be updated as new information is available.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.