Man shooting at Southern California motorists, killing 1, charged with murder

The 39-year-old man arrested for allegedly shooting at passing commuters in Riverside County earlier this week, killing a husband and father of four and injuring another person, has been charged with one count of murder and of six counts of attempted murder.

Surveillance footage captured Julio Cesar Rodarte as he emptied an entire magazine of bullets into passing motorists, loaded another and continued shooting around 6:30 a.m. June 3 on State Street, near the intersection of West 7.^th San Jacinto Street.

Victor Leon was fatally shot during the incident while returning home from his night shift at a warehouse in Moreno Valley.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years and their four children.

A second person with a gunshot wound was hospitalized and is currently recovering.

During an appearance in Riverside County Court on Thursday, the 39-year-old suspect's attorney requested a mental competency hearing, which the judge approved and scheduled for July 13, according to Thalia Hayden, public information officer for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Rodarte, convicted of carjacking in September 2004 in Monterey County, remains in custody.