The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster man pleads not guilty to hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian

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Victim Rodney Richard [pictured right] was struck and killed on Lancaster Blvd. on Aug. 4, 2018. Detectives have identified James Gonzalez [pictured left] as the driver of the white GMC truck [pictured center] that struck Richard and then fled the scene.
LANCASTER – A Lancaster man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian in August 2018.

James Gonzalez, 39, faces one count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury to another person.

Gonzalez — who is due back in a Lancaster courtroom June 30 — faces up to 43 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The case stems from an Aug. 4, 2018, collision that killed 22-year-old Rodney Richard on Lancaster Boulevard near Elm Avenue in Lancaster.

A white GMC Sierra traveling at an extremely high rate of speed in a 15 mph zone struck Richard and sped off without stopping, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Detectives from the Lancaster sheriff’s station unsuccessfully searched for months for the vehicle, with the county Board of Supervisors issuing a $10,000 reward in 2018 for information leading to the suspect and the city matching the $10,000 reward.

Detectives received an anonymous tip 14 months later, which resulted in three months of investigation that led them to identify Gonzalez as the suspect, according to the sheriff’s department. Gonzalez was arrested Jan. 15, 2020 and has remained behind bars since then.

Previous related stories:

Arrest made, murder charge filed in Lancaster hit-and-run death

LA County renews reward in Lancaster hit-and-run death

$10K reward offered in Lancaster hit-and-run death

Public’s help sought in fatal hit and run in Lancaster

Man killed by hit-and-run motorist in Lancaster

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9 comments for "Lancaster man pleads not guilty to hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian"

  1. I believe several weeks ago, a 17-year-old teenager, so come to the COV 19 virus?

    Is that still the case? Because I don’t see that in this article.

  4. James Gonzalez is a PUNK! He hit someone and ran. He was more concerned with his tattoo business. He needs to get the highest punishment.

    • How do they know if he was intoxicated if they didn’t give him a blow test that night and didn’t catch him till a year LATER? How can they prove he was DRUNK? By the way most likely was. Sounds like he was driving pretty fast.

      • The drunk driving in this case is nothing, it’s the fact that he left that poor kids dead body in the street, and didnt say a thing or at least knew who did it using his truck for all those who say he didn’t do it.

    • You sound like a punk. You don’t even know if it was James that did this. Bunch of idiots assuming [removed]…let the courts figure out his guilt. We all make mistakes in life, and if he did do it in sure he’s remorseful, and apologetic for this unfortunate situation. Not only for the victims family, but his as well…