Three arrested in shooting of Riverside man
Riverside police and sheriff’s deputies moved in before dawn today to arrest three people allegedly involved in the non-fatal shooting of a man apparently mistaken for a rival gang member, authorities said.
The suspects were identified as 18-year-old George Luis Gonzalez of Riverside and two 17-year-olds, according to police spokesman Steve Frasher.
He said the victim, 23-year-old Greg Wilson, and a friend were confronted by the suspects about 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at a convenience store at Arlington Avenue and Tyler Street.
According to Frasher, Wilson and his companion, both black, were leaving the store when the suspects got out of a Ford Expedition and allegedly made "gang identification calls and challenges.’’
"The black males insisted they were not gang members," Frasher said.
The suspects then left in their Expedition, and Wilson and his friend drove to an apartment complex in the 10100 block of Gould Street.
Within minutes of arriving at the location, the victim, standing outside his car, noticed the same Ford Expedition speeding toward him.
"He’s there on the street, and one of the juveniles steps out of the Expedition with a shotgun and blasts him," Frasher said.
Wilson suffered a wound to the leg from which he has since recovered, Frasher said. The victim’s friend was inside the apartment building at the time and not injured, he said.
An investigation identified all three occupants of the vehicle as members of a street gang, according to Frasher.
Investigators served search warrants at each of their homes early this morning, he said. One of the youths resides in Mira Loma, an unincorporated area of the county, necessitating the sheriff’s department’s assistance in the sweep.
Gonzalez was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of attempted murder with a gang enhancement, Frasher said.
He said the two 17-year-old suspects were booked into Riverside Juvenile Hall on the same allegations.
—From news services
Posted by PE.com at 10:29 PM, November 30
Southside Riva Tiny Winos
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Excluding Los Angeles, discuss all other California cities and counties.
Excluding Los Angeles, discuss all other California cities and counties.
They claim Southside Riva,,but the south side of Riverside is spread out...rual. They're around the Arlington area of Riverside..Tyler Ave, Arlington Ave., La Sierra area, and part of Arlanza area (not Arlanza 13 though). They're tryin to jump on that racial band wagon against Blacks,,tryin to drive around droppin the "N" bomb on any Black people they think are gangsters..Alot of that tention is coming from Norta Vista High School. TWX3 is fueding with ABK (All Black Kings) who Michael Swayne was hanging with when that dude from Varrio 5150 killed him. The driver of that shooting just got convicted and is gonna "L",,but TWX3 don't even like V-5150,,they beef too
Gang member convicted of murder in 2005 shooting
Gang member convicted of murder in 2005 shooting
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By JESSICA LOGAN
The Press-Enterprise
A jury Tuesday found a Riverside gang member guilty of killing one man and attempting to kill two others to promote his gang.
Arnaldo Mercado-Valdivia could be sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 30 on one count of second-degree murder for the Aug. 26, 2005, death of Michael Swayne, 26, and two counts of attempted murder for shooting at the two men who accompanied Swayne.
Michael Swayne's wife and mother cried quietly in the courtroom as the verdict was read. The defendant showed no emotion.
"I was glad that justice was served," B.J. Swayne, Michael's wife of three years, said outside the courtroom. "Now he can rest ... I feel like it is the beginning of closure."
The jury found that the crimes were committed with a gun in furtherance of a street gang -- elements that could add years to Mercado-Valdivia's sentence. He also was found guilty of shooting at a house, but not guilty of attempting to murder two teenagers who witnessed the shooting
The man who fired the shot that killed Swayne, Richard Dean Granillo, was previously sentenced to 150 years to life for his part in the crimes.
The prosecutor argued that Swayne and his friends were standing at Penny Drive and Rutland Avenue in Riverside when the defendant drove by.
A member of Swayne's group yelled a compliment about the car, the defendant turned the car around and Granillo, a passenger, shot at the group, the prosecutor told the jury.
The defendant's attorney, Mario Valenzuela, said his client will appeal the conviction because he is not in a gang.
"I've said all along this is a case of guilt by association," Valenzuela said outside court.
Deputy District Attorney Kamaria Henry disagreed.
"There was more than adequate evidence that he was someone well entrenched in a gang," Henry said outside of court.
The family can speak before Riverside County Superior Court Judge J. Thompson Hanks pronounces sentence next month. Swayne's wife has not yet decided what she will say.
"My husband always told me, 'Hate is not in our vocabulary,' " B.J. Swayne said. "Hate is a waste of our energy. I know he wouldn't want me to ... hate him for what he did."
Reach Jessica Logan at 951-368-9466 or jlogan@PE.com
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By JESSICA LOGAN
The Press-Enterprise
A jury Tuesday found a Riverside gang member guilty of killing one man and attempting to kill two others to promote his gang.
Arnaldo Mercado-Valdivia could be sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 30 on one count of second-degree murder for the Aug. 26, 2005, death of Michael Swayne, 26, and two counts of attempted murder for shooting at the two men who accompanied Swayne.
Michael Swayne's wife and mother cried quietly in the courtroom as the verdict was read. The defendant showed no emotion.
"I was glad that justice was served," B.J. Swayne, Michael's wife of three years, said outside the courtroom. "Now he can rest ... I feel like it is the beginning of closure."
The jury found that the crimes were committed with a gun in furtherance of a street gang -- elements that could add years to Mercado-Valdivia's sentence. He also was found guilty of shooting at a house, but not guilty of attempting to murder two teenagers who witnessed the shooting
The man who fired the shot that killed Swayne, Richard Dean Granillo, was previously sentenced to 150 years to life for his part in the crimes.
The prosecutor argued that Swayne and his friends were standing at Penny Drive and Rutland Avenue in Riverside when the defendant drove by.
A member of Swayne's group yelled a compliment about the car, the defendant turned the car around and Granillo, a passenger, shot at the group, the prosecutor told the jury.
The defendant's attorney, Mario Valenzuela, said his client will appeal the conviction because he is not in a gang.
"I've said all along this is a case of guilt by association," Valenzuela said outside court.
Deputy District Attorney Kamaria Henry disagreed.
"There was more than adequate evidence that he was someone well entrenched in a gang," Henry said outside of court.
The family can speak before Riverside County Superior Court Judge J. Thompson Hanks pronounces sentence next month. Swayne's wife has not yet decided what she will say.
"My husband always told me, 'Hate is not in our vocabulary,' " B.J. Swayne said. "Hate is a waste of our energy. I know he wouldn't want me to ... hate him for what he did."
Reach Jessica Logan at 951-368-9466 or jlogan@PE.com