Two brothers accused of robbing and killing a man on a Perris street were charged Wednesday with murder and other offenses.
Bryan Ortega, 18, and Edgar Sanchez Ortega, 22, both of Perris, allegedly gunned down 25-year-old George Torres of Moreno Valley on Friday.
Along with murder, the brothers are charged with robbery and attempted robbery, with a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery. Bryan Ortega is additionally charged with firearm assault and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
They made their joint initial court appearance before Riverside County Superior Court Judge David Gunn at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The judge appointed the brothers public defenders but did not immediately set a formal arraignment date.
Bryan Ortega is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, and his elder sibling is being held on the same amount at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Carroll, about 1:50 a.m. Friday, the defendants allegedly confronted Torres in the 4000 block of North Perris Boulevard. Bryan Ortega pulled a semiautomatic pistol and shot the victim multiple times, after which the brothers took his belongings, investigators and court papers allege.
The men fled, Carroll said, but Central Homicide Unit detectives quickly obtained leads pointing to the brothers’ alleged involvement, culminating in search warrants being served at properties in Perris and the pair’s arrest.
In addition to Torres, the defendants allegedly targeted two other men, identified in court documents only as “J.N.” and “M.F.,” for robbery on the same morning, court papers stated.
Neither party was injured.
Edgar Ortega has an unresolved, unrelated misdemeanor case pending in Superior Court, but no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. Nor does his younger brother, according to court papers.