Grand Terrace Man Faces Charges In Connection With Road-Rage Incident

MURRIETA (CBSLA.com) — A man faces attempted murder charges in connection with an road-rage incident in Wildomar.

Gabriel Elijah Bowker of Grand Terrace appeared in a Murrieta courtroom Thursday for his arraignment.

The 20-year-old man is accused of using a baseball bat to settle a road-rage incident. Bowker's wife, Guadalupe Bowker-Cadena, 29, of Fontana, is being charged as an accessory.

The incident occurred onnorthbound I-15 near the exit for Clinton Keith Road just before 7 p.m. Monday.

"Both vehicles ended up pulling to the side of the road. Defendant's vehicle was behind the victim's vehicle," John Hall of the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors said it started with a lane-passing incident after which both vehicles pulled over and words were exchanged.

It was then, prosecutors allege, Bowker started beating the couple with a baseball ball.

As CBS2's Tom Wait reports, the pair was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Both are expected to survive.

Inside their car were a toddler and an infant, who possibly witnessed the episode unfold, Wait said.

"We have not charged any child-endangerment in this case at this time," Hall said. "The investigation that we've received from the Highway Patrol there's no indication that we can say right now that either of the defendants knew that either of the children were in the vehicle."

Meanwhile, a family member of the pair that remains hospitalized said via Facebook:

"This makes me sick ... the couple that was brutally attacked is my aunt and uncle they are in intensive care they were out celebrating a 2nd birthday. Please have them in your prayers ... how anyone could do this is beyond me."

Bowker-Cadena's bond was set at $5,000 while her husband's was set at $1 million. He faces seven years to life behind bars, if convicted.