Parolee Accused Of Gunning Down Temecula Woman To Be Arraigned Next Week

MURRIETA, CA — A parolee who allegedly gunned down a 30-year-old Temecula woman only days after he was let out of state prison is slated to be arraigned a week from Friday.

Rashad Kysim Populus, 28, of Los Angeles was arrested earlier this week following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the slaying of Shaquilah Kaprise Howard.

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Populus is charged with first-degree murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, as well as parole violations.

The defendant made his initial court appearance Thursday, when Superior Court Judge Judith Clark appointed a public defender for him and scheduled his formal arraignment for Oct. 16 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Populus is being held in lieu of $3 million bail at the nearby Byrd Detention Center.

RELATED: Temecula Woman Fatally Shot At Apartment Complex, Suspect Arrested: Sheriff

According to sheriff's Sgt. Carlos Mendoza, at 7:30 a.m. Monday, the defendant was involved in an unspecified dispute with Howard at the victim's apartment in the 28000 block of Colorado Avenue, near Las Haciendas Street.

During the apparent domestic squabble, Populus pulled a handgun and shot her at least once, investigators alleged.

Witnesses called 911, and patrol deputies reached the location a short time later, locating the mortally wounded victim in the apartment, Mendoza said. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Central Homicide Unit detectives quickly identified Populus as the alleged shooter, and he was tracked to a residence on Astoria Place in Oxnard. He was taken into custody there without incident late Monday afternoon.

"Populus had been released on parole on Sept. 24, stemming from a conviction for assault with a firearm," Mendoza said.

The length of his imprisonment wasn't disclosed, and no further details were available regarding what might have triggered the alleged attack on Howard, or the relationship between Populus and the victim.