A convicted felon accused of gunning down a 68-year-old Riverside man in a drive-by attack as the victim stood outside his home must stand trial for first-degree murder and other offenses, a judge ruled Friday.
Gabriel Daniel Molina, 31, of Riverside was arrested in 2023 for the alleged slaying of Michael Rangel.
Following a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst found there was sufficient evidence to bound Molina over for trial on the murder count, along with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and killing for the benefit of a criminal street gang, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Aug. 27 and ordered the defendant to remain held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center.
Molina’s co-defendant, 30-year-old Mark Anthony Valdez of Riverside, is set to appear for a mental competency hearing on Sept. 2. He’s charged with being an accessory after the fact and is free on a $10,000 bond.
According to the Riverside Police Department, the alleged motivation behind Molina’s decision to target Rangel stemmed from the defendant’s gang affiliation, but no other details were provided.
On the afternoon of Oct. 28, 2023, Molina cruised the Casa Blanca neighborhood where the victim resided in the 8500 block of Harmony Lane, near Magnolia Avenue, driving by the man’s house when he stepped onto the front lawn, investigators alleged.
Police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback alleged the defendant fired “numerous” rounds from a semiautomatic handgun, gravely wounding Rangel, then speeding away from the scene.
The victim was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died that evening.
Robbery-Homicide Unit and Gang Intelligence Unit detectives spent more than a week tracking down leads that ultimately pointed to Molina as the alleged shooter, according to Railsback.
The defendant was out on bail at the time, following an earlier arrest for armed robbery and a high-speed police pursuit during which he crashed into a business, causing major injuries to his passenger, Railsback said.
Molina was taken into custody without incident on Nov. 8, 2023. Valdez was taken into custody soon afterward without complications.
Molina has gang-related prior felony convictions in Riverside County. No information was available regarding Valdez.