A convicted felon accused of gunning down a 52-year-old man outside a store in Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood must stand trial for murder and other offenses, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Jose Manuel Leon Navarrette, 25, of Riverside was arrested earlier this year following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the death of Carlos Delreal, also of Riverside.
At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Charles Koosed found there was sufficient evidence to bound Navarrette over for trial on the murder count, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Oct. 28 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Navarrette is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to police spokesman 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 sufficient evidence at the scene and from witnesses that ultimately pointed to Navarrette as the alleged perpetrator, though no further details were released by police.
A possible motive also was not disclosed.
The defendant was tracked to a motel in Colton, where he was taken into custody without incident six days after the shooting.
Court records show Navarrette has prior documented felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property.