A convicted felon accused of fatally shooting a 25-year-old man during an altercation at a Riverside hookah bar made his initial court appearance Thursday and was ordered to be held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Kevin Alfredo Hernandez of San Bernardino was arrested Sunday, hours after he allegedly gunned down Jose Rondan, also of San Bernardino.
Hernandez is charged with murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
He appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail O’Rane, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for April 1 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to the Riverside Police Department, Hernandez and Rondan were in the University Lounge at 1345 University Ave. about 1 a.m. Sunday when theygot into a physical confrontation for reasons still under investigation.
“At some point during the altercation, the suspect produced a handgun and fatally shot the victim,” Officer Javier Cabrera alleged.
He said witnesses immediately called 911, and patrol officers swarmed the location. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures on Rondan, but he was pronounced dead at the scene less than 10 minutes later.
Cabrera alleged that Hernandez ran northbound toward Interstate 215 just prior to officers’ arrival. He was found a few hours later, blood spatter still on his shirt, in the area of University and Cranford Avenue, where he was taken into custody without incident, according to the officer.
It was unclear whether Hernandez and Rondan were acquainted.
Court records did not specify Hernandez’s prior convictions, which were in another jurisdiction.