El Cajon
Bail was set Friday at $500,000 for an El Cajon man charged with trying to murder another motorist on California 67 during a traffic dispute.
Simeon Thomas Berkley, 45, pleaded innocent before Municipal Court Judge Ann Winebrenner, who scheduled a bail review for next Wednesday.
The victim, Richard Durkin, 31, of San Diego, was shot in the back in Wednesday’s incident.
Both men had been driving on Interstate 8, but Berkley motioned Durkin to pull off the freeway in Santee, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dave Lattuca said.
The drivers stopped near Magnolia Avenue, and words were exchanged before Durkin was shot. Berkley later surrendered to El Cajon police.
Berkley is also charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The judge scheduled a Feb. 25 preliminary hearing.
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