RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Riverside Police have made two arrests in connection with the tragic shooting death of Army veteran Michael Rangel, who was killed in his own front yard while watering his lawn. The 68-year-old was struck by gunfire from a passing car, an act that shocked the local community and left family and friends grappling for answers.

Surveillance footage obtained by law enforcement shows a white, four-door vehicle approaching Rangel’s home, near Heidi Road and Harmony Lane, before someone inside the car opened fire, ultimately leading to Rangel’s death. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigators are working to determine why the attack occurred.

The man accused of firing the fatal shots, Gabriel Molina, has been taken into custody. The 29-year-old faces murder charges and is being held on $1 million bail. In a troubling development, police revealed that Molina, a convicted felon, was found with a firearm when he was apprehended for Rangel’s murder.

Additionally, a second suspect, 28-year-old Mark Anthony Valdez, has also been arrested in connection with the case. Valdez has been released on $10,000 bail and is suspected of being an accessory to Rangel’s murder.

As the community mourns the loss of a beloved Army veteran, authorities continue to search for a clear motive behind the shooting. The senseless act has brought to light the ongoing issue of gun violence in Riverside and the impact it has on families and communities. The investigation into Rangel’s tragic death remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to come forward and assist law enforcement in their efforts to seek justice for the fallen veteran.