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Woman accused of shooting, killing man at Pechanga Resort charged

MURRIETA - A Wildomar woman accused of gunning down her boyfriend during a confrontation at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula was charged today with murder.

Maria Santos Vihnanek, 31, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of killing 49-year-old Keith Rodman of Los Angeles, who fathered her 6-month-old child.

Along with the murder count, Vihnanek is charged with child endangerment and faces a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, as well as gun and great bodily injury allegations.

She is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Riverside County sheriff's investigators, deputies arrived on scene and found Rodman in the lobby of the resort in need of medical attention. He was transported to Temecula Valley Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Additionally, Vihnanek was located in a guest room at the resort suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated at a hospital and booked into jail.

Further investigation revealed that the shooting occurred in a guest room and that the victim entered the lobby of the casino to seek emergency medical treatment immediately thereafter.

The baby, who was not injured, was placed in the custody of county child protective services.

A possible motive for the shooting was not disclosed.

Victim of casino shooting identified as Los Angeles man

TEMECULA - A Los Angeles man who was shot inside a hotel room at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula and died was identified today by the Riverside County Coroner's Office as Los Angeles resident Keith Rodman.

Rodman and the suspect, 32-year-old Wildomar resident Maria Vihanek, were in a dating relationship and had a six-month-old baby together, the sheriff's department announced today.

The baby was in the hotel room where Rodman was shot on Friday, but was not injured.

Vihanek will be arrested after being treated for a self-inflicted injury, authorities said.

Rodman was shot an undisclosed number of times and was able to make his way to the giant resort casino's lobby, Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Mike Manning said.

Sheriff's dispatchers received a 911 call at 10:56 p.m. Friday about a bloodied man in the lobby. They also discovered Vihanek in the hotel room where the shooting occurred. Rodman was taken to Temecula Valley Hospital, where he died early Saturday, the Riverside County Coroner's Office reported.

Casino spokeswoman Ciara Green couldn't recall the last time a shooting occurred there.

The casino continued its operations Friday night while sheriff's detectives conducted their investigation in the lobby area and hotel room, Green said.

 

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