Jury selection has begun for the trial of La Quinta, who is accused of murdering a store customer

Jury selection began today for the trial of a parolee accused of stabbing a supermarket customer during an altercation in Indio.

Vicente Angel Munoz, 32, of La Quinta, is charged with murder, use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a serious crime, which carries a severe penalty, and probation violations in connection with the 2020 killing of Maurice Brock, 29, of Indio.

Pretrial motions were completed Tuesday, and Riverside County Superior Court Judge Charles Koosed called several groups of prospective jurors to the Riverside Hall of Justice on Wednesday to assess their availability and qualifications. Candidates were given questionnaires to fill out, and proceedings ended for the day.

Koosed ordered the panels to be returned next week after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Munoz, whose case was transferred from the Larson Justice Center in Indio to the Riverside courthouse on Monday, is being held at the Robert Presley Jail on $1 million bail.

According to an evidentiary statement attached to the prosecution's motions, Munoz confronted Brock shortly before 1 a.m. on March 14, 2020, in the parking lot of the Circle K at 79-985 Highway 111.

Authorities said the defendant's behavior was erratic that night and there was never a clear explanation as to why Brock was targeted. He was a regular evening customer of the supermarket, according to witnesses, while Munoz was a stranger.

During the altercation, the parolee became physically violent toward the victim, who tried to push him away. That's when the defendant pulled out a knife and stabbed Brock, who then ran away with Munoz on his heels, prosecutors alleged.

The defendant caught up with the victim, stabbed him again and then fled the scene on foot, according to the prosecution.

Brock was taken to JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, where he died a short time later.

Munoz returned to his family's residence at 79-290 Camino Rosada, where he became hostile toward his brother and others, who called 911 and said “Vicente was waving a knife in front of the family,” court documents state.

Sheriff's deputies, who were already investigating the fatal stabbing attack, received a description of the attacker in the house and found that it matched the description given by the man who allegedly carried out the attack on Brock.

They went to the La Quinta residence and arrested Munoz without incident.

Court records show that the defendant has previous convictions for robbery, domestic violence, theft and vandalism.