Jury selection to start Tuesday in trial of man accused of fatally shooting Indio driver
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a motorist who then crashed his vehicle outside an Indio business.
Miguel Mejia Cazarez, 44, of Indio, was arrested in 2021 following an Indio Police Department investigation into the slaying of 39-year-old Jose Luis Villegas III of Mecca.
Cazarez is charged with first-degree murder, hit-and-run resulting in property damage and sentencing-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
Last week, Riverside County Superior Court Judge James Hawkins began reviewing pretrial motions submitted by the prosecution and defense, and that process continued Monday at the Larson Justice Center. However, the judge is expected to summon prospective juror panels to the Indio courthouse Tuesday for screening as to their availability and qualifications.
There was no word whether opening statements might move forward this week.
Cazarez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the nearby Benoit Detention Center.
According to Indio police, shortly before 8 p.m. Jan. 12, 2021, an unspecified confrontation occurred between the defendant and Villegas in the 82000 block of Ocotillo Avenue, just north of Interstate 10. Both men were in their vehicles at the time.
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During the conflict, Cazarez allegedly pulled a handgun and opened fire, mortally wounding the victim, then-police spokesman Ben Guitron said.
He alleged the defendant fled the location, and Villegas attempted to drive away, but only made it a block before passing out from his wounds, plowing into a fence in front of a business at 82045 Avenue 44, east of Monroe Street.
The victim died at the scene.
Detectives quickly identified Cazarez as the alleged shooter and took him into custody without incident less than an hour later.
He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
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