An Anaheim man was charged Monday in connection with a car shooting on a Norco street — but authorities now believe he was responsible for at least seven of the estimated 100 BB-gun shootings that have plagued Southern California freeways for the last two months.
Now, Jesse Rodriguez, 34, has been charged by Riverside County prosecutors for two of those shootings, which were alleged to have happened the same day as the Norco incident. He is accused of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and assault with a deadly non-firearm weapon.
Prosecutors said the shootings took place in May on the 91 Freeway in Riverside, one near the Magnolia Avenue exit and another near the Tyler Street exit. Rodriguez was arrested the same day of the incident after drivers reported gunfire. The description of his car — a red SUV with no license plates — matched witness descriptions.
No drivers were reported seriously injured in connection with the incident.
Between April and May of this year, the windows of about 100 vehicles were damaged by BB-gun ammunition, mostly along the 91 in Anaheim, Cerritos, Corona, and Riverside, according to California Highway Patrol.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including that for attempted murder in the Norco case. He told the Southern California News Group in a jailhouse interview that he had a BB-gun and ammunition in his car when he was arrested, but had not fired it. He claimed to have confiscated it from his son for safekeeping.
Rodriguez remained in custody at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in French Valley in lieu of $1 million in bail. He will return to court for hearing on Jan. 31.
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