A judge ruled on Wednesday that two men accused of killing a 21-year-old Riverside motorist in a car-to-car shooting must stand trial for capital murder.
The accused individuals, Freddy Cebrero, 29, and Francisco Rodriguez, 25, both from Riverside, are facing charges in connection with the 2021 slaying of Damian Preciado.
After a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Helios Hernandez determined there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial for the pair. They are charged with first-degree murder, as well as a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. The charges are further enhanced by gun and great bodily injury allegations. Additionally, there is evidence to support an allegation of shooting from a moving vehicle.
A post-preliminary hearing arraignment has been scheduled for December 5 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Both defendants are currently being held without bail. Cebrero is detained at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio, while Rodriguez is held at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to Riverside police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback, the incident occurred on September 19, 2021, at around 11:20 a.m. Rodriguez and Cebrero allegedly encountered Preciado at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Tyler Street, just west of downtown, and opened fire on him while he was in his vehicle.
The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene, according to Railsback.
Railsback stated that while no suspects were immediately identified, detectives later obtained leads suggesting that the deadly attack was gang-related and that Cebrero and Rodriguez were the alleged assailants. No further details have been disclosed at this time.
Cebrero was arrested in Yucca Valley on December 28, 2021. He does not have any prior felony or misdemeanor convictions documented in Riverside County.
Rodriguez was apprehended in Riverside on January 11, 2022, without any significant incident. He also does not have any prior records in the county.
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