RIVERSIDE, CA – A 23-year-old man has been formally charged with murder following a fatal encounter in late November, according to the Riverside Police Department. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office filed the charges against Ray Jai Watters, a Riverside resident, in connection with the death of 33-year-old Richard Castaneda.
The investigation began on the morning of Friday, November 28, 2025. At approximately 6:50 a.m., officers responded to reports of an assault involving a deadly weapon in the 5900 block of Magnolia Avenue. Upon their arrival, first responders located Mr. Castaneda, who was suffering from injuries to his head. He was transported to a local hospital and was initially listed in stable condition. However, authorities confirmed that Mr. Castaneda died from his injuries on December 4.
Detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Unit conducted an investigation into the incident. Their findings indicated that the injuries resulted from an unprovoked physical altercation between two men described by police as homeless. Investigators identified Mr. Watters as the suspect and subsequently obtained a warrant for his arrest…