Memorial Service held for Riverside County Deputy, Darnell Calhoun killed a year ago

A service was held Saturday morning marking one year since the killing of Riverside County Sheriff Deputy, Darnell Calhoun.

Deputy Calhoun was killed at the age of 30, and was honored today outside the Sheriff's Lake Elsinore Station.

Among those present were Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco joined by Station Commander Captain, James Rayls, Lake Elsinore City officials, and Calhoun's family including his wife, three sons, parents and siblings. 

Speakers remembered his sacrifice and honored his memory. 

"I can tell you that he showed up in his every day life the same way he showed up in his final moments, said Calhoun's wife, Vanessa Calhoun. "He bravely and fiercely loved me and his boys. He fought for us when things got hard."

"I want to seriously thank from the bottom of my heart, all of Darnell's family, both sides, you are all one family," said Sheriff Chad Bianco. "I want to thank all of you for coming today, and honor you and Darnell and his service, and what he did not only to this department but what he did for this community."

Calhoun was killed after arriving alone to a residence that had reported a domestic altercation.

When he arrived, he allegedly came under fire from 43-year-old Jesse Ceazar Navarro. 

Calhoun was hit several times and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. 

Navarro is being held without bail in Riverside on first-degree murder charges, and has a mental competency hearing set for January 19th. 

The District Attorney's Office announced last July that prosecutors will pursue a death sentence if Navarro is convicted.