RIVERSIDE: Motor officer tracks down suspect after drive-by shooting

RIVERSIDE – A Riverside Police Department motor officer who heard gunshots Monday, Oct. 31, located the alleged shooter and arrested the man after a dangerous vehicle pursuit. The shooting happened Halloween night, in the area of Comer Street and University Avenue.

Dion Martell King, 36, of Moreno Valley, led officers on a vehicle pursuit before he eventually yielded and was arrested. He was later booked into jail for attempted murder and weapons violations, according to a Riverside police official.

A male and female, who have not been identified, were seated on a raised concrete wall at about 9 p.m., when they noticed a vehicle drive slowly past them. The driver then stopped and fired at least three shots at the couple from inside the vehicle.

A Riverside Police motor officer who was around the block on his way to a separate incident heard the gunfire. The motor officer was following the sound of the gunfire when he was flagged down by the two victims, who were pointing in the direction of the fleeing vehicle. The officer followed the suspect vehicle while requesting assistance from patrol officers.

Officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle at Lime Street and University Avenue. The driver, who was later identified as King, refused to yield to officers lights and sirens and accelerated away from them at a high rate of speed.

During the pursuit King drove in an extremely reckless manner, without regard for the safety of other citizens or pursuing officers. He eventually yielded to pursuing officers several blocks away, near Lime and 14th Streets.

Officers conducted a high-risk felony traffic stop and King was safely detained. Officers searched the path the vehicle had traveled during the pursuit and located a handgun that King allegedly tossed from the car. Officers reportedly located additional evidence of the shooting inside the car.

The victims positively identified King as the person who had shot at them, at which time officers arrested him.

A jail records search revealed King was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for suspicion of attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held in lieu of one million dollars bail and was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, Nov. 3.

Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the shooting is encouraged to contact Riverside police officials at (951) 826-5700. Callers can refer to incident file number  P16-201394 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.