California man arrested after police say he shot at random cars, killing father of 4

A California man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he shot at passing vehicles, killing one person and injuring others.

The shootings happened in San Jacinto, about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Julio Cesar Rodarte, 39, has been arrested and booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility for murder and 10 counts of attempted murder, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Rodarte’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reports of man shooting at passing vehicles

The shooting happened around Monday morning. Someone called deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station around 7:05 a.m. that day and said a male was shooting at passing vehicles. 

The shooter hit multiple vehicles and two people. The gunshot victims were taken to the hospital where one, 42-year-old Victor Hugo Leon, was pronounced dead.

Deputies secured the area and investigators from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, Central Homicide Unit and the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau responded to the scene. 

Since then, the Central Homicide Unit has led the investigation, which is ongoing, authorities said. 

Victim was raising four kids with wife of 13 years

Leon, the victim who died, was a father of four and was married for 13 years. He had just bought a home with his wife two years ago, KTLA reported.

His wife, Griselda Zepeda, said he was “very lovable.”

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

She gave the outlet insight into what happened that morning, adding that her husband worked an overnight shift at a warehouse and typically got home in the morning. She woke up Monday and realized he wasn’t home.

Zepeda called her sister, who worked with her husband, and her sister told her he had already left an hour ago.

“More time kept passing by,” she told KTLA. “I just had a feeling something bad had happened … After him not calling me back after 40 times, I knew something was bad. I reported him missing. I went to every hospital hoping they would tell me he was there.”  

GoFundMe set up for 'amazing father, husband and friend'

Loved ones set up a GoFundMe in Leon’s honor to help with burial expenses.

“He was only minutes away from his home when this tragedy occurred,” the fundraiser reads. “Victor was an amazing father, husband and friend. He leaves behind three sons, one daughter, and his loving wife. Victor's smile and sense of humor will be truly missed, he leaves a hole in the hearts of us who knew him.”

The shooting was captured on surveillance footage and according to KTLA, it shows the suspect randomly shooting at vehicles.

Witnesses told KTLA that the suspect eventually took his shoes and clothes off.

Authorities said they are not looking for other suspects. They ask that anyone with information contact the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or the San Jacinto Station (951) 654-2702.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].