Irvine slaying suspect to be arraigned Monday

A man charged with fatally shooting his estranged wife in Irvine is to be arraigned Monday, the Orange County district attorney’s office said in a news release.

John Rand Agosta, 35 of Anaheim, is accused of waiting for his estranged wife, Alejandra Hernandez, 28, near a Turtle Rock daycare where she worked, before shooting her in the chest nine times Thursday, the release said.

Prosecutors believe that Agosta followed Hernandez when she left for her lunch break. About a half a mile from the daycare, she got out of her car in a cul-de-sac, where Agosta allegedly shot her about 2 p.m.

Authorities believe that Agosta tried to flee in his car, but could not start the Ford Mustang. He then called a friend who was unaware of the shooting to ask for a ride, the release said. Police found Agosta about 4:30 p.m. at the friend’s Mission Viejo home.

If convicted, Agosta faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Irvine police initially reported that Agosta was from Orange, but his last known address was in Anaheim, said Farrah Emami a spokeswoman for the D.A.’s office.

—Lauren Williams