Road Rage Suspect
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A 46-year-old man accused of shooting a motorist during a road rage confrontation south of Corona while his child sat next to him must stand trial for attempted murder and other offenses, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Luis Orlando Quiroz of Corona was arrested in July following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.
At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Charles Koosed found there was sufficient evidence to bound Quiroz over for trial on the attempted murder count, along with shooting at an occupied vehicle, firearm assault, carrying a loaded gun in public without a permit and child endangerment, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for March 18 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The defendant is free on a $1 million bond.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Patrick Montalvo, the alleged attack occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on June 23 in the area of Dawson Canyon and Temescal Canyon roads.
Montalvo said the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, was driving northbound on Temescal Canyon “when he was struck by gunfire.”
The man was able to drive himself to a hospital for treatment of a non- life-threatening wound, from which he has since recovered. Deputies went to the location to take a report several hours later.
Montalvo said the ensuing three-week investigation led to the identification of Quiroz as the alleged assailant, though specific details regarding what prompted the road rage were not provided.
“It was later learned that Quiroz’s child was in the vehicle during the shooting and was unharmed,” the sergeant said.
The defendant was taken into custody without incident after he was interviewed by detectives at the sheriff’s Lake Mathews station, where he had been summoned.
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