Beaumont Man Faces Murder Charges In Shopkeeper Killing: Courts

BEAUMONT, CA —A Beaumont man arrested one year ago in the killing of a 61-year-old Cathedral City store owner must stand trial for murder, the court ruled Monday.

Both 20-year-old Charles Lamar Campbell of Beaumont and 20-year-old Joel Ortiz Hidalgo of Desert Hot Springs are accused of murdering 61-year-old Chris Sgouromitis during a robbery in 2021.

The men appeared in a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mac Fisher found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for both men. Charges for both include first-degree murder, attempted robbery and the special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery.

Campbell was additionally held to answer on sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Fisher scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for April 29 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

The defendants are both being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Cathedral City police were sent to the Outpost Market at 68171 Ramon Road about 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2021, to investigate reports of a holdup and discovered the convenience store owner mortally wounded.

Despite first responders' efforts to save him, Sgouromitis was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, according to police.

The victim was a beloved member of the community, and investigators said that help from residents was critical in tracking down the alleged attackers.

According to police, Sgouromitis was a "father of four with strong local community ties, who was not involved in criminal activity and died in his longtime place of business."

Detectives relied on evidence gathered at the scene, including security video surveillance tape, as well as other leads, to track down the defendants, who were both arrested without incident within a week of the deadly shooting.

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Related:

Suspected Killers Of Cathedral City Store Owner Jailed