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Crime Oct 03, 2022
| Photo courtesy of Sora Shimazaki/Pexels
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A 41-year-old San Bernardino man who gunned down his wife and seriously wounded their teenage son during a domestic confrontation in Eastvale was sentenced Monday to 32 years to life in state prison.
Rahman Leon Hunter pleaded guilty in August to first-degree murder, attempted murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed.
During a sentencing hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Judith Clark certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the term of imprisonment stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche, about 1 a.m. Aug. 16, 2020, there was an unspecified domestic dispute involving Hunter and his spouse, 37-year-old Chiana Hunter, at her residence in the 7200 block of Lazare Court, near Archibald Avenue.
According to a sheriff’s bail-setting affidavit filed after the defendant’s arrest, during the confrontation, Rahman Hunter became violent, physically assaulting his wife, prompting the couple’s 15-year-old son, whose identity was not disclosed, to attempt to intervene.
“Hunter shot his son three times — one time in the left wrist and twice in the left thigh,” according to the affidavit. “Chiana tried to protect her son, and Rahman shot her one time in the chest, killing her.”
Witnesses called 911, and deputies reached the location moments later, finding Chiana Hunter in grave condition. First responders tried to save her, but she died at the scene.
The boy was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. He has since recovered.
Hunter fled in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe, heading north to Hesperia, where he was apprehended without incident 10 hours later.
The defendant had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. However, he had a misdemeanor shoplifting conviction in San Bernardino County, according to court records.
