Chris Sgouromitis, a 60-year-old resident of Cathedral City, California, tragically lost his life on February 21, 2021. He was the owner of the Outpost Market, a well-known convenience store in the community. On that fateful evening, Sgouromitis was working at his store when an armed robbery took place. The Cathedral City Police Department received multiple 911 calls around 9:15 p.m., reporting the incident. Upon arrival, officers found Sgouromitis suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Sgouromitis' death revealed that two 19-year-old men were responsible for the crime. Charles Lamar Campbell of Beaumont and Joel Ortiz-Hidalgo of Desert Hot Springs were identified as the suspects. Campbell was alleged to have been the shooter, while Ortiz-Hidalgo acted as the getaway driver. The police were able to track down the suspects with the help of community members and evidence gathered from the scene, including security video footage.
Both Campbell and Ortiz-Hidalgo were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and the special circumstance of killing during the course of a robbery. Campbell faced additional charges related to the use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury. The suspects were held without bail and awaited trial at the Riverside County Superior Court. The case garnered significant attention due to the senseless nature of the crime and the strong community ties of the victim, who was described as a beloved father of four and a respected local business owner.
The legal proceedings against Campbell and Ortiz-Hidalgo progressed with preliminary hearings and arraignments. The court found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, and both men re-entered not guilty pleas to the charges. The trial-readiness conference was scheduled for a later date, and the community continued to mourn the loss of Chris Sgouromitis while seeking justice for his untimely death.
