Accused Corona Man Awaits Felony Charges In Carjacking Death Of Senior

CORONA, CA — Felony charges are expected to be filed Wednesday against a 29-year-old man suspected of carjacking a senior in Norco and dragging the victim to his death while driving away in the SUV.

Ryan Hewitt of Corona was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside Monday on suspicion of murder, carjacking, reckless driving and illegal possession of a firearm. Hewitt is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

He allegedly killed 79-year-old James Norman of Corona.

The case was under review Tuesday by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Mike Kelleher, the deadly carjacking occurred about 12:20 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of Hidden Valley Parkway, less than a mile east of Interstate 15.

Deputies were sent to the location in response to 911 calls and learned from witnesses that a man had been carjacked. Kelleher said as the investigation was unfolding, sheriff's officials were informed by Corona police officers that Norman had been found lying on Hidden Valley, east of where he'd been carjacked.

The victim was taken to a regional trauma center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to the sergeant.

Witnesses told investigators that a suspect had jumped into the driver's seat of the SUV and sped away on the four-lane corridor, with Norman "partially inside the rear seat," hanging half out of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's department.

"The victim was dragged and ejected from the vehicle," according to an agency statement.

Central Homicide Unit detectives learned from Riverside police that the victim's SUV had been found near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Polk Street.

Detectives were able to confirm the identity of the alleged assailant, Hewitt, and the 6-foot-5-inch suspect was taken into custody without incident at Magnolia and Tyler Street at 3 p.m. Monday

Background information on him was unavailable.