Felon accused of fatally striking Kaiser employee during pursuit charged with murder

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - A 62-year-old parolee who allegedly ran over and killed a pedestrian at a Riverside crosswalk while fleeing from police was charged today with first-degree murder and other offenses.   

Gene Amos Cunningham of Riverside was arrested Tuesday following a roughly 24-hour investigation by the Riverside Police Department into the death of 42-year Peter Mullis, also of Riverside.  

Along with murder, Cunningham is charged with being a prior-strike felon and parole violations.

The defendant, who is being held on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail, was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to Detective Steve Espinosa, about 11:40 a.m. Monday, officers patrolling the area of La Sierra and Magnolia avenues in west Riverside spotted a motorist -- later identified as Cunningham -- commit an alleged traffic violation and signaled him to stop.

"The driver initially yielded but fled as officers approached on foot,'' Espinosa said. "He traveled eastbound on Magnolia at a high rate of speed."  

Espinosa said that at the intersection of Magnolia and Park Sierra Drive, Mullis entered the marked crosswalk, apparently without noticing the high-speed traffic coming his way. Cunningham plowed into the victim and kept going, Espinosa alleged.

The police spokesman said that the pursuing officers immediately stopped to render aid as the defendant raced away.   

Mullis was taken to nearby Kaiser Foundation Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.

The police department's Major Accident Investigation Team immediately began gathering information that ultimately pointed to Cunningham as the alleged driver.

"Cunningham has two outstanding felony warrants and is on California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation parole for assault with a deadly weapon,'' Espinosa said. "He has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest."  

The parolee was taken into custody without incident near downtown Riverside late Tuesday morning.

If convicted, he would face a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

Kaiser Permanente released the following statement Monday night: 

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our employees in a traffic incident near Riverside Medical Center on July 27. Our heartfelt condolences are with the employee's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. Questions regarding the accident should be directed to the Riverside Police Department. Our focus remains on supporting the employee's loved ones and others affected by this loss."

The police department's Major Accident Investigation Team immediately began gathering information that ultimately pointed to the alleged driver. The suspect had two outstanding felony warrants and was on California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation parole for assault with a deadly weapon, police confirmed.

"He has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest," Espinosa said.

The parolee was arrested at an unknown location. The Riverside County Jail Management System provided few details Tuesday afternoon because of how recently the suspect had been booked into the Robert Presley Jail, where he's being held without bail.