A convicted felon accused of fatally stabbing two transients during apparent random attacks in downtown Riverside was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder and other offenses.
Cesar Aguirre, 32, of Perris was arrested last week following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the deaths of 54-year-old Richard Hinds and 57-year-old Corrina Segovia.
“We praise the expeditious actions of all involved in this investigation,” Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said. “Our Robbery-Homicide Unit (worked) around the clock to bring this violent and dangerous predator to justice, protecting our vulnerable homeless community.”
Along with the murder counts, Aguirre is charged with special circumstance allegations of targeting multiple people in a deadly crime and lying in wait, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.
The defendant made his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for April 2 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Aguirre is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center.
According to Riverside police Detective Steven Espinosa, sometime after midnight last Thursday, Aguirre boarded an RTA bus near his Perris home and rode it into Riverside, where he began walking downtown streets.
Shortly after 2 a.m., he encountered Hinds in the area of 12th and Main streets. Espinosa alleged the defendant pulled a knife and stabbed the victim several times, then walked away, leaving the homeless man bleeding to death.
Moments later, at the intersection of 12th and Orange streets, Aguirre attacked Segovia, inflicting mortal knife wounds and then walking away, the police spokesman alleged.
“These were local homeless individuals known to frequent the downtown area,” he said. “Investigators later determined Aguirre’s attacks were unprovoked.”
The victims were discovered a short time later by passersby, who called 911. Both died where they fell.
Aguirre was identified based on undisclosed evidence. He was tracked to his residence on Spectacular Boulevard, where he was taken into custody without incident last Friday.
His prior convictions were not listed by the court.