Road Rage Attack
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A 65-year-old Colton man who fatally shot a Riverside motorist during a road rage confrontation — firing a bullet that narrowly missed one of the victim’s children before killing him — pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges and was immediately sentenced to 54 years to life in state prison.
Jose Juan Escobedo admitted the murder count, along with two counts of child endangerment and one count of firearm assault, as well as sentence- enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle against Escobedo.
During Tuesday’s hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Gary Polk certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
Escobedo fatally wounded 25-year-old Sergio Oporto of Riverside on Feb. 3, 2023.
According to Officer Ryan Railsback of the Riverside Police Department, shortly before 4 p.m., Oporto, his girlfriend and their 4-year-old and 3-month old children were driving along East La Cadena Drive when Escobedo began tailing them closely, angered for reasons never fully understood.
“As they neared the intersection of La Cadena and Citrus Street, the suspect vehicle pulled alongside them,” Railsback said. “The driver appeared to be angry (and) pulled out a firearm, then fired a single gunshot into the car. The bullet penetrated the passenger side of the victim’s car, over the seated 3-month-old child, striking Mr. Oporto in the head.”
Escobedo immediately fled the scene.
Railsback said paramedics arrived moments later and found Oporto clinging to life. The victim was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he remained in a coma before succumbing to his wound on Feb. 10, 2023.
The children and their mom, whose identities were not disclosed, were not injured.
Homicide detectives began piecing together evidence collected at the scene, and elsewhere, including security camera footage, developing leads that ultimately pointed to Escobedo as the shooter, according to Railsback.
The defendant was taken into custody without incident at his Colton home two weeks later.
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