Defense Rests In Trial Of Man Accused of Murdering Restaurant Customer

RIVERSIDE, CA — The defense rested Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of gunning down a 31-year-old acquaintance during an altercation in a Cathedral City restaurant, setting the stage for closing arguments.

Willie Ramirez Bustamante, 34, of Cathedral City is charged with second-degree murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the slaying last year of Ernesto Lazcano Arroyo, also of Cathedral City.

Defense attorneys summoned their final witness Wednesday morning, two days after the prosecution rested. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst directed jurors to return to the Riverside Hall of Justice for closing arguments Thursday.

Bustamante is free on a $100,000 bond.

According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney's Office, Bustamante and Arroyo were casual acquaintances, and late on the night of Aug. 6, 2023, the victim went to the Applebee's at 32-400 Date Palm Drive to eat with his wife, Stephanie Salazar, while the defendant went to the eatery with his wife, Hannah Bustamante, and friends.

The victim and defendant were seated at different tables a short distance from one another.

Arroyo got up during his meal and walked to the booth where Bustamante and his company were seated, exchanging words with them in what witnesses recalled was a "friendly" manner, the brief stated. However, within seconds of Arroyo returning to his table, Bustamante got up and confronted the victim angrily, igniting a fistfight, prosecutors said.

At least two people inside the restaurant, including a server, recorded the ensuing 25-second altercation, during which a glass was thrown, and Bustamante and possibly two others traded blows with Arroyo, who "was getting hurt really bad" until the combatants tumbled outside onto the handicap ramp, where Arroyo knocked Bustamante to the ground, according to the brief.

Several witnesses later told police the fight effectively ended at that point, because Arroyo backed away, leaving almost 10 feet between himself and Bustamante, who nevertheless pulled a semiautomatic handgun and leveled it at the victim, prosecutors alleged.

Arroyo then allegedly lunged at Bustamante, who opened fire, mortally wounding the victim, court papers said. No one else was struck by the gunfire.

The defendant fled the location, while paramedics and Cathedral City Police Department officers were called.

Arroyo was taken to a Coachella Valley trauma center, where he died a short time later.

Bustamante was identified as the alleged shooter the following day. Coordinating with the county's Gang Impact Team, investigators placed his residence in the 69-100 block of Dinah Shore Drive under surveillance and ultimately obtained and served a search warrant there, culminating in his arrest, according to police spokesman Sgt. Albert Ruiz.

A clear motive for the fight was not disclosed.

Court records show Bustamante was charged with attempted murder and other offenses over a decade ago in connection with an attack in Palm Springs. However, the charges were later dismissed.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

—City News Service