A 73-year-old San Diego man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a man, then setting his body on fire before leaving the scene in the South Bay in 2023, California Highway Patrol officials said Monday.
Dwight Rhone is accused of shooting Bernardo Moreno, 54, on Interstate 5 near state Route 905 on Oct. 13, 2023, CHP Officer Jared Grieshaber said in a news release.
The CHP arrested Rhone on Dec. 5 on suspicion of murder, investigators said. Rhone was already in federal custody at the time of the arrest.
On Feb. 26, officers transferred Rhone from federal custody and booked him into San Diego county jail, Grieshaber said. He pleaded not guilty last week to charges that include murder, attempted robbery, unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle and identity theft.
Details about the events leading up to the shooting and arrest were not immediately available Tuesday.
“While this arrest won’t erase Mr. Moreno’s family’s pain, I hope it brings them some comfort knowing justice will be served,” Capt. Mike Vargas said.
Federal court records show that Rhone has previous firearm and parole violation convictions.
Investigators asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the major crimes unit at 858-944-6300.
