Felony charges are expected to be filed Thursday against a Moreno Valley man accused of stabbing and attempting to shoot two security guards during a confrontation outside a Riverside bar.
Hugo Cesar Garciao, 32, was arrested early Saturday morning and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance and illegal possession of a firearm. He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, Garciao went to the bar in the 3200 block of Iowa Avenue, near Blaine Street, just north of the UC Riverside campus, about midnight, seeking to be admitted.
Security personnel at the door stopped the suspect, believing he might start trouble at the establishment, at which point Garciao turned aggressive, pulling a knife on the guards, Railsback alleged.
The suspect allegedly stabbed one guard, and when the victim’s colleague came to his aid, Garciao allegedly stabbed him, as well.
“The suspect then produced a firearm and shot at the first security member,” Railsback alleged. “At some point, he fired a gunshot toward the second security member but also missed.”
Other bar employees went to assist, and Garciao was subdued, wrestled to the ground and held down until the arrival of patrol officers who responded to a 12:11 a.m. report of gunfire, according to Railsback.
Garciao was searched and allegedly found to be in possession of two handguns, according to Railsback.
The two guards were taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening wounds, from which they’re expected to fully recover.
Garciao has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.