MURRIETA — A man accused of fatally shooting a 38-year-old Lake Elsinore resident was charged Friday with murder and other offenses.

Steven Saul Vargas, 33, of Lake Elsinore was arrested Wednesday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the slaying of Brian Rivas.

Along with murder, Vargas is charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

He made his initial court appearance Friday before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for Monday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro, shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, there was an unspecified con

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