A former San Diego television journalist has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out two separate roadside shootings on Palomar Mountain, allegedly targeting victims after asking about their ethnicity. Ricardo Berron, 46, who previously worked for Spanish-language broadcasters Univision and Telemundo, was taken into custody at San Diego International Airport on March 10, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Berron faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, with prosecutors seeking hate crime enhancements. The first incident occurred on October 6, 2025, when Joseph Valentino was shot in the arm while sitting in his car at a scenic overlook. Valentino told local media that the assailant asked if he was Mexican and, upon his affirmative reply, fired a rifle, striking his arm and then his rear tyre as he fled.
The second shooting took place on February 23, 2026, when a man stargazing was approached and had a single round fired through his car window after being asked about his ethnicity. The victim was unharmed. Authorities later searched Berron’s home in Chula Vista and recovered a 9mm handgun believed to be linked to at least one of the attacks.
Berron, a father of five, has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 17. His wife has disputed the accusations, claiming police have the wrong person. Berron declined to comment when approached by reporters.
