SAN JACINTO, CA — A man accused of gunning down a 31-year-old San Jacinto woman and trying to kill her companion in a premeditated attack nearly seven years ago pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder and other charges.

Daniel Antonio Cortez Acevedo, 27, of San Jacinto allegedly killed Anna Meza for undisclosed reasons in 2017.

Along with murder, Acevedo is charged with attempted murder, a special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The defendant was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Francisco Navarro, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for June 7 at the Banning Justice Center.

Acevedo is being held on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jesse Martinez said the identity of Meza’s alleged killer required a “lengthy investigation” by Central Homicide Unit detectives.

The victim was walking with a man identified in court documents only as “J.M.” in the 100 block of North Dillon Avenue, near Main Street, on the afternoon of Nov. 12, 2017, when Acevedo allegedly approached them and pulled a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol, opening fire, according to investigators and prosecutors.

Meza was shot to death in the street. J.M. was not wounded.

The assailant, then unknown, fled the scene.

Investigators initially had little information on the circumstances and asked for the public’s assistance, but few clues surfaced.

Martinez did not disclose what detectives uncovered that finally led them to Acevedo, or why he allegedly targeted the victims.

He was taken into custody without incident following a traffic stop in San Jacinto on April 12.

Court records show the defendant has a prior misdemeanor conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The post RivCo Cold Case: Suspected Killer Answers Charges 6 Years Later appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

This week, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of a suspect in the case “after a lengthy investigation.”

Daniel Acevedo Cortez, 27, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait and sentence-enhancing gun, and great bodily injury allegations. He was arrested Friday by the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit during a traffic stop, according to the department.

According to jail records, Cortez is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center on $1 million bail.

Justice For Anna

Just before 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2017, Acevedo Cortez allegedly approached Meza and a man identified in court records as J.M., on the 100 block of North Dillon Avenue in San Jacinto. He then pulled a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol, opening fire, according to investigators and prosecutors. Meza was shot and killed, while J.M. was uninjured in that attack.

Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, identified as J.M. in court records, was present but not wounded in that attack.

For six and a half years since, on birthdays and holidays, Anna Meza’s family and friends have left flowers at her gravesite.

Meza’s grave marker is a polished black marble double heart. It bears Anna’s image and the words “Always On Our Minds, Forever In Our Hearts,” along with icons reflecting her heritage and lyrics from a favorite song.

Her family vowed never to forget. They have participated in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Victims of Violent Crimes Memorial for six years, including the virtual coronavirus year. Her sister, Alishia Falcon, has made statements at San Jacinto City Council sessions and remained in contact with the detectives.

“Anna’s last words were ‘call 911. I’m dying,'” something that no family member should ever have to learn, she said in an online petition calling for justice in her sister’s slaying. “She deserves justice, and her family deserves some closure.”

Falcon posted on Facebook after the arrest of the suspect in her sister’s fatal shooting.

“Justice has been served,” she wrote.

“My Dearest Beautiful Loving Sister…I promised you that I wouldn’t stop and that I would gift you what you Highly deserved.”

The post RivCo Cold Case Murder Suspect Arrested In Anna Meza’s 2017 Death appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.