Cole William Birchard, 31, of Riverside was shot to death outside the Motel 6 on the 3600 block of La Sierra Avenue in the early morning hours of May 17, 2021. Surveillance footage shows Birchard joining a man and the man’s girlfriend while they shared a cigarette, stepping away, then returning and punching the man in the face. The man, identified as 48-year-old Robert Donald Intong of Desert Hot Springs, retrieved a 9mm handgun from his room, stood behind his girlfriend and fired multiple rounds over her shoulder, fatally wounding Birchard.

Court filings say Intong, his girlfriend and her daughter calmly removed items from their room and loaded them into Intong’s vehicle after the shooting; Intong is reported to have picked up spent shell casings before leaving. A motel clerk discovered Birchard’s body about 40 minutes later and called 911. Intong was arrested and charged with first-degree murder with firearm and great-bodily-injury enhancements; a jury found him guilty after less than a day of deliberation and he is being held without bail pending sentencing.

Anyone who knew Cole, was at the motel that morning, or has information about what happened is asked to come forward.