A former San Diego TV reporter is facing potential hate crime charges after he allegedly shot at two men while asking their ethnicities in separate incidents.
San Diego cops arrested Ricardo Berron, 46 — who worked for Univision and Telemundo — at San Diego International Airport as he was leaving for vacation, Fox 5 reported.
Forensic evidence connected Berron to two separate shootings on Palomar Mountain, the outlet reported.
The shootings showed similarities, which lead investigators to believe they were related.
The potential hate crime charge comes as Ricardo Berron allegedly shot at two men while asking their ethnicities.
Berron was arrest at San Diego International Airport. Facebook/BerronRicardo
“Similarities between this (Feb. 23) incident and a previous shooting on October 6, 2025 —during which the victim was struck once in the arm — provided investigators with probable cause to believe the same suspect was responsible for both crimes,” police said in a statement.
During the first shooting in October, Berron allegedly shot a man near the summit of Palomar Mountain, 10news reported. The victim was stargazing until he heard something metallic tap on his window.
The man said the gunman asked him if he was Mexican as he aimed a gun at his head. The suspect then fired, hitting the victim in the arm before he fled the scene amid more gunfire.
“I raised my hands and asked him not to shoot,” the victim, Joseph Valentino, told Fox 5. “He asked me if I was Mexican. I responded yes. At that point, I saw him zero in on my head, and instinctively turned to the right. I heard the shot — it missed my face and caught my arm.”
The first shooting allegedly occured near the summit of Palomar Mountain.
The victim said the gunman asked if he was Mexican as he aimed a gun at his head.
Police executed a search warrant at Berron’s Chula Vista home and seized a firearm “believed to be used” in at least one of the shootings.
The more recent incident, on Feb. 23, allegedly saw Berron fire a round through a person’s driver’s side window near the same area of Palomar Mountain. The victim, who fled and was not hurt, said the gunman asked about his ethnicity.
Police executed a search warrant at Berron’s home in Chula Vista and seized a 9mm firearm “believed to be used in at least one of the shootings,” they said.
Berron worked for Univision and Telemundo in the San Diego market. Facebook/BerronRicardo
He has been released on $100,000 bail and will be arraigned on March 17. Facebook/BerronRicardo
Berron has been booked into the Vista Detention Facility on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and cops say the investigation is ongoing. He’s since been released on $100,000 bail, 10news reported, and will be arraigned on March 17.
He did not speak to Fox 5 when approached at his home, but the outlet reported that his wife claimed the allegations are false and that the authorities have the wrong person.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!