A former television journalist in San Diego is facing possible hate crime charges after investigators say he shot at two men in separate incidents on Palomar Mountain, allegedly targeting them because of their ethnicity.

According to authorities, San Diego County deputies arrested 46-year-old Ricardo Berron on Tuesday at San Diego International Airport as he was preparing to leave for a vacation.

Investigators said forensic evidence links Berron to both shootings. His social media also indicates he worked as a journalist for Spanish-language television stations in San Diego until around 2019 or 2020, when at least one of the stations operated under different ownership.

Berron declined to comment when approached outside his home in Chula Vista, quickly getting into his car and driving away without responding to questions about the allegations.

His wife, who spoke off camera, said the accusations are false and insisted authorities have the wrong person.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the first incident occurred on October 6 along South Grade Road near the summit of Palomar Mountain. Sgt. Evan Sobczak said deputies received a report of a man being shot at while parked along the roadside.

The victim, who asked to be identified only as Joseph, said he was admiring the scenic view when an armed man approached his vehicle. He said he raised his hand and pleaded with the man not to shoot, but the suspect asked whether he was Mexican. After he answered yes, the gunman aimed at his head and fired. The bullet shattered the car window, missed his face, and struck his arm.

The victim added that the suspect fired again as he drove away, hitting a rear tire.

Authorities said a second incident occurred on February 23 in the same area. In that case, a man sitting in his car reported that a gunman approached and fired once through the driver’s side window, narrowly missing him.

Sobczak said forensic evidence collected from the second shooting helped investigators identify a suspect. Authorities later searched Berron’s home and recovered a 9-millimeter handgun believed to have been used in at least one of the attacks.

Both victims were Hispanic, and investigators say the suspect asked about their ethnicity before opening fire. Officials are now seeking to file hate crime charges in the case.

Berron, a husband and father of five, has since been released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 17.