Imperial Beach Woman Dies in Struggle with Deputy, Boyfriend Charged with Murder

A San Diego County man accused of setting off a chain of events that culminated in his girlfriend being killed was charged Thursday with murder and other offenses.

Eric John Nourani, 32, was arrested in the predawn hours Tuesday after being accused of assaulting a Riverside sheriff’s deputy and trying to grab his gun during a confrontation in the 1000 block of West Sixth Street, near Lincoln Avenue in Corona.

Along with murder, Nourani faces counts of attempted murder, mayhem, resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer resulting in great bodily injury.

The defendant, initially being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, pleaded not guilty Thursday during an arraignment before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk.

Polk also ordered Nourani’s bail to be increased to $2 million while scheduling another hearing for June 25.

The criminal complaint against Nourani alleges he was responsible for the death of Jennifer Rose Dobbins, 30, of Imperial Beach, who was killed by a deputy’s bullet.

The allegation stems from California’s felony murder rule, which allows an individual to be charged with causing a death if the fatality occurred as a result of an attack on a peace officer, even though the party did not directly inflict the wounds.

According to sheriff’s officials, shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy was traveling the Sixth Street corridor when he stopped to investigate the activities of a group of people.

“The subjects took off running, and the deputy pursued them on foot,” a sheriff’s statement said. “When the deputy turned the corner of a building, (Nourani) lunged at him, and a fight ensued.”

Sheriff’s officials allege that while the deputy, identified in court documents only as “J.B.,” struggled with the defendant, Dobbins jumped into the fray and began “assaulting the deputy.” The shooting followed.

“The female suspect was struck by gunfire,” according to the statement. “The deputy continued to fight off (Nourani), who was attempting to take his firearm until good Samaritans arrived and assisted in detaining him.”

First responders attempted life-saving measures on Dobbins, who was taken to a regional trauma center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, authorities said.

J.B. suffered unspecified moderate injuries that required medical attention, while Nourani was treated for minor injuries prior to being booked.

The deputy was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which involves both the California Department of Justice and the sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail, whose staff works in concert with the District Attorney’s Office.

Nourani has no documented prior criminal history in Riverside County.

– City News Service

Updated 7:05 p.m. June 13, 2024