Authorities in California detained a former employee of Telemundo and Univision on Tuesday in connection with two distinct shooting events on Palomar Mountain.
Ricardo Berron, 46, who previously worked for the prominent networks Telemundo and Univision, is now facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon. According to CBS 8, investigators from the San Diego Sheriff’s department are looking into the possibility that these incidents could be classified as hate crimes due to the nature of the interactions.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office reports that although the attacks were months apart, they shared an unsettlingly similar modus operandi.
On October 6, in Valley Center, Berron is alleged to have confronted a vehicle parked at the summit of Palomar Mountain, striking the victim’s window with a rifle. The 57-year-old victim awoke to find a rifle aimed at him while being interrogated about his ethnicity.
After the man confirmed he was Mexican, Berron allegedly fired a shot that struck the man’s arm, as reported by 10 News.
“I looked over my left shoulder and saw the silhouette of a man,” the victim, identified only as Joseph, recounted in an October interview. “He was pointing a rifle at my head.”
Joseph managed to drive away, but not before another bullet struck his vehicle.
The second shooting incident happened on February 23, again at Palomar Mountain. Prior to Berron allegedly firing a handgun at the man star gazing, he asked him if he was Mexican.
The bullet missed the victim, and the man escaped without being physically injured, 10 News reported.
Law enforcement apprehended Berron Tuesday at the San Diego International Airport.
While officials confirmed he had been traveling at the time of his arrest, it remains unclear if he was arriving or attempting to depart San Diego County, according to CBS 8.
A warrant was issued for a search of Berron’s Chula Vista residence. During the search, investigators recovered a 9mm handgun believed to be the weapon used in at least one of the shootings.
Berron was booked into the Vista Detention Facility and released after posting $100,000 bail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 17, according to 10 News.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via Facebook]
