Woman Accused of Murdering Murrieta Man at McDonald's Due in Court

MURRIETA, CA - A preliminary hearing is scheduled Friday for a woman accused of fatally shooting the father of her child during a confrontation in a Menifee restaurant.

Amanda Jeanne Harwood of Big Bear, 37, is charged with first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait in the October 2015 slaying of 39-year-old Joseph Hennings of Murrieta.

Friday's hearing before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gallon will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.

Harwood is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

"Along with the murder count, the DA’s Office has alleged a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait against Harwood," the Riverside County District Attorney's office said in a news release. "That allegation makes her eligible for the death penalty. A determination whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date by District Attorney Mike Hestrin. There also is a sentencing enhancement alleged of personal use of a firearm."

According to Riverside County sheriff's officials, on the afternoon of Oct. 9, 2015, Harwood drove to Menifee to meet Hennings, with whom she had been in a relationship for an unspecified period, to arrange a child custody exchange.

The defendant and victim met inside the McDonald's restaurant in the 28000 block of Bradley Drive, just off Interstate 215, and while they were speaking, she allegedly pulled a handgun and opened fire, inflicting fatal wounds, investigators said.

Harwood remained at the restaurant after the shooting and was taken into custody without incident, according to sheriff's officials.

Paramedics pronounced Hennings dead at the scene 10 minutes later. The child, whose identity was not released, was taken into protective custody.

Harwood has traffic-related convictions in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, but nothing more serious.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department