A former TV news reporter has spoken out following his arrest for allegedly shooting two Hispanic men in separate incidents. Ricardo Veron, who identifies as Hispanic, expressed confidence that everything would be clarified soon. He shared these thoughts from the comfort of his $900,000 home in Chula Vista, where he lives with his wife and five children.
Veron was apprehended on March 10 at San Diego International Airport as he was about to embark on a vacation. Law enforcement stated that a 9mm handgun was located in his residence, which they believe was connected to at least one of the shootings.
The 46-year-old has previously been a well-known anchor and reporter for Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo.
The blinds were drawn at his four-bedroom, two-bathroom home when a reporter visited on Thursday. Situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, the property is a mere 17 miles from downtown San Diego.
Currently, Veron faces charges of a hate crime. Authorities indicated that the shootings occurred in the picturesque Palomar Mountains, located 107 miles from his home, and believe they were racially motivated.
Sergeant Evan Sobchak remarked that this situation may indeed stem from hate, noting the victims were both Hispanic and that the suspect had asked, “Are you Hispanic?” before firing.
Investigators have linked Veron to a shooting on February 23, where a man was shot at while parked on a rural road, enjoying the night sky. Fortunately, that individual was unharmed during the incident.
Additionally, they have tied Veron to an earlier shooting on October 6, where another victim was hit when parked and answered “yes” to the suspect’s question about his ethnicity.
That victim, identified as Joseph, recounted the traumatic moment. He described raising his hands in fear as the assailant inquired if he was Mexican. After he confirmed, a shot rang out, barely missing his head and instead hitting his arm.
Joseph remarked, “At that point, I saw him zero in on my head. I instinctively turned to the right. I heard a gunshot, and it came through the window, hitting me in the face and hitting me in the arm.”
Following the shooting, the gunman fired again as he drove away, damaging the car’s rear tire. Forensic evidence from the scene eventually assisted investigators in identifying the suspect.
Veron’s wife has publicly denied the allegations, and he has since been released on bail. A court date has been set for March 17.
The California Post is seeking comments from Veron’s legal representation.
