A felon accused of gunning down a 52-year-old man outside a store in Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder and other offenses.
Jose Manuel Leon Navarrette, 25, of Riverside was arrested earlier this month following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the death of Carlos Delreal, also of Riverside.
Along with murder, Navarrette is charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
He was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail O’Rane, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for May 20 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Navarrette is being held on $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, the alleged attack occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the AutoZone parking lot at 1947 University Ave.
Railsback said witnesses called 911 to report gunfire, and patrol officers arrived moments later, discovering Delreal slumped over inside his car, fatally wounded.
Robbery-Homicide Unit detectives gathered evidence at the scene and from witnesses that ultimately pointed to Navarrette as the alleged perpetrator, according to the police spokesman.
A possible motive was not disclosed.
The defendant was tracked to a motel in Colton, where he was taken into custody without incident six days later.
Court records show Navarrette has prior documented felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property.