DA charges freeway shooter with 3 attempted murder counts

An Anaheim man accused in one of the many Southern California freeway shootings reported in recent weeks was charged today with three counts of attempted murder, authorities said.

Jesse Leal Rodriguez, 34, was also charged with three counts of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, according to a news release from District Attorney Mike Hestrin’s office. Rodriguez is accused of shooting out the back window of a Tesla with a BB gun near Hamner Avenue and Hidden Valley Parkway in Norco on Tuesday afternoon. Three people were inside the Tesla at the time.

“Shooting at moving vehicles with a BB gun or pellet gun while traveling at high speed on our roads or freeways is incredibly dangerous,” Hestrin said. “Shooting out windows of cars could easily startle drivers in traffic and cause a major accident. We are all relieved that no one was seriously injured by these crimes.”

Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Riverside. If convicted as charged, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years plus 42 years to life in prison.

Based on a vehicle description of the incident, police located a maroon Chevrolet Trailblazer about 9:30 p.m. in a shopping center parking lot near Magnolia and Tyler Avenues. Rodriguez was arrested and was found to have a BB gun, BBs, and related items in his possession.

There have been at least 50 incidents reported to law enforcement of vehicles shot at with a BB or pellet gun along the 91 Freeway corridor since the middle of April. There have been dozens more reported in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

If anyone has additional information on this case or has been a victim and not yet reported it to law enforcement, you are asked to call the CHP tip line at 714-288-6336.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials in Orange County continue to seek leads in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy as he rode with his mother in a vehicle on the 55 Freeway in Orange on Friday. Officials said this was a possible road rage incident and have released a photo of the suspect vehicle, which appears to be a white Volkswagen Golf Sportswagen (below).

Anyone with relevant information about that case is asked to call the CHP at 714-567-6000.

Photo credit: California Highway Patrol