Father of four killed by man shooting at passing cars in Riverside County, authorities say

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

A 39-year-old man was arrested Monday morning for allegedly firing randomly at passing cars in Riverside County, killing a husband and father of four, authorities said.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded at 7:05 a.m. to the area of West Seventh Street and South San Jacinto Avenue to a report of a man shooting at passing vehicles, according to a sheriff’s department news release.

Two people were found shot and multiple cars had been hit by gunfire; both victims were hospitalized and one died from his injuries, according to authorities.

Julio Cesar Rodarte, a 39-year-old San Jacinto resident, was arrested and booked into Larry Smith Correctional Facility on one count of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder charges, officials said. There are no outstanding suspects in the investigation.

The deceased man was identified as Victor Hugo Leon, 42, of San Jacinto, according to investigators.

Leon and his wife, Griselda Zepeda, had been married 13 years and had four children, she told KTLA.

Leon worked in a warehouse in Moreno Valley and was supposed to return Monday morning but when Zepeda woke up, he still wasn’t home. That’s when she knew something had gone terribly wrong.

“He was a very lovable person,” she said. “He leaves us very broken. He had that mean face, but he was such a sweetheart, always doing his best for his family.”

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.