A convicted felon accused of gunning down a 21-year-old man during a robbery outside a Perris gas station was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder.
Francisco Anthony Yzararraz, 26, of Perris is accused of killing Gelder Funes-Lopez of Guatemala on Feb. 2 in the 200 block of East Fourth Street.
Along with murder, Yzararraz faces a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations. The special circumstance makes him eligible for capital punishment, if he’s convicted and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office decides to pursue it.
Yzararraz is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta and is slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Carroll, the defendant was identified as the alleged perpetrator during the investigation that immediately followed the deadly shooting. He was taken into custody for alleged parole violations, and detectives interviewed him in jail, culminating in his arrest Monday on suspicion of murder, Carroll said.
There was no word on the evidence allegedly linking Yzararraz to the crime.
According to sheriff’s officials, the documented gang member allegedly confronted Funes-Lopez in an 8 p.m. hold-up and shot him in the upper body.
Deputies arrived within minutes, but the defendant had fled. The victim died at the scene.
According to court records, Yzararraz has prior convictions for armed robbery, gang activity and parole violations.