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Authorities in California detained a former employee of Telemundo and Univision on Tuesday in connection with two distinct shooting episodes on Palomar Mountain.
Ricardo Berron, age 46, who previously worked for the prominent networks Telemundo and Univision, is now facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts in total. According to CBS 8, the San Diego Sheriff’s investigators are probing these events as potential hate crimes because of the particular circumstances surrounding each occurrence.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office has reported that although the assaults happened months apart, they exhibited a disturbingly similar pattern.
On October 6, in the vicinity of Valley Center, Berron is alleged to have approached a vehicle parked near Palomar Mountain’s summit, striking the victim’s window with his rifle. The 57-year-old individual inside awoke to find a rifle aimed at him while being interrogated about his Mexican heritage.
After the man confirmed his Mexican ethnicity, Berron purportedly fired, striking the victim in the arm, as reported by 10 News.
“I looked over my left shoulder, and I saw the silhouette of a man,” the victim, known only as Joseph, said 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]