Gelder Funes-Lopez, a 21-year-old resident of Temecula, California, tragically lost his life on February 2, 2020, in Perris, California. The incident occurred at an Arco gas station located on the 200 block of E. 4th Street. Funes-Lopez was fatally shot while pumping gas at the station. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by deputies and medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene following reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
The investigation into Funes-Lopez's death led to the arrest of Francisco Anthony Yzararraz, a 26-year-old resident of Perris. Yzararraz was already in custody on an unrelated parole violation at the time of his arrest for the murder of Funes-Lopez. He was taken into custody just four days after the fatal shooting. The authorities have not disclosed the motive behind the killing, and early reports suggesting that Funes-Lopez may have been shot after refusing to give money to a panhandler have not been confirmed by the investigators.
Yzararraz is currently being held without bail at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. The Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit continues to investigate the case, and they have encouraged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. The case remains open, with investigators seeking to uncover more details about the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Gelder Funes-Lopez.
