Felony charges are expected to be filed Wednesday against a 39-year-old man suspected of assaulting a Temecula resident and leaving the victim in an intersection near the Pechanga Resort Casino, where he was struck by a car and killed.
Alex Leyva of Vista was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on Sunday morning on suspicion of murder. Leyva is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
His case was under review Tuesday by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
According to sheriff’s investigators, at around 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Leyva was involved in an unspecified dispute with 35-year-old George Fresquez at the intersection of Pechanga Parkway and Wolff Valley Road, less than a block from the main resort entrance.
Sgt. Mike Kelleher alleged that during the confrontation, Fresquez was knocked out and left lying in the southbound lanes of Pechanga Parkway.
“After the assault occurred, the victim was struck by a vehicle,” Kelleher said.
The motorist apparently didn’t see him in time to stop, and according to the sergeant, the driver continued southbound after running over the victim.
A patrol deputy spotted Fresquez while driving through the intersection and immediately stopped to attempt CPR. Kelleher said county fire paramedics arrived minutes later and took over the resuscitative measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Central Homicide Unit detectives assumed the investigation, and hours later identified Leyva as the alleged assailant, though no details were released regarding evidence.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident at 9 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Pechanga and Temecula parkways, three miles from where the alleged attack occurred.
“Investigators also identified the vehicle and driver who struck the victim,” Kelleher said.
The party, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained for questioning but ultimately released.
“Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the collision,” Kelleher said.
Background information on Leyva was unavailable.