Man shot while driving vehicle in Moreno Valley

June 4, 2016 Trevor Montgomery

Dracea Ave. west of Perris Blvd. was closed in both directions for several hours. Mike Lange / Loudlabs News

MORENO VALLEY – A man was seriously injured in a shooting Friday, June 3, according to a Riverside County Sheriff official. The shooting occurred in the area of Dracea Avenue and Sweet Fern Street, near Butterfield Elementary School.

The victim, who has not been identified, was struck in the back by at least one bullet while he was driving his SUV.

The man was rushed to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after his speeding SUV was stopped by deputies who were responding to the area of the shooting, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Michael Vasquez.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Police Station converged on the area just before 10 p.m., after Riverside County emergency communications dispatchers began receiving numerous 911 calls from citizens reporting hearing at least seven shots fired.

Dracea Ave. west of Perris Blvd. was closed in both directions for several hours. Mike Lange / Loudlabs News

Responding deputies stopped the victim’s vehicle on Dracea Avenue west of Perris Boulevard after he was seen speeding away from the area where the shooting occurred, Vasquez said.

After deputies stopped the man’s vehicle and realized the driver was the victim of the shooting, they immediately requested Fire and AMR personnel to respond to the location of the traffic stop.

Paramedics treated the victim – who was reportedly trying to drive himself to a hospital – at the location of the stop before they transported him to a local hospital for further treatment.

At least two crime scenes were identified and cordoned off with crime scene tape while deputies conducted their investigation. Dracaea Avenue was closed in both directions just west of Perris Boulevard and Sweet Fern near Perris Boulevard were closed to through traffic for several hours.

The victims SUV was found riddled with bullet holes. Mike Lange / Loudlabs News

Investigating deputies found the victim’s SUV riddled with multiple bullet holes.

They also located shell casings and other evidence where the shooting was first reported.

As of Saturday evening, the motive for the shooting was unknown and no further information was immediately available.

Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to contact the Moreno Valley Police Station at (951) 486-6700. After hours calls can be made to (951) 776-1099, or by email at [email protected].