Hemet drive-by shooting injures boys – One critical

UPDATED: Wednesday, June 17, 1:38 p.m., With victim’s correct ages.

HEMET, Calif. — A group of adults and juveniles setting off fireworks at a Hemet apartment complex came under fire, injuring two juveniles Saturday evening, June 13. Although witnesses at the scene initially reported the children were believed to be 10 and 13, a sister of one of the victims later corrected that the boys were 16 and 17 years old.

One of the minors sustained a serious gunshot wound to his thigh, while the other was reportedly struck in the chest and airlifted to an area trauma center in critical condition.

Officials have not made any arrests in the shooting; which happened around 10 p.m., in an alleyway and carport area between apartments on the 1200 block of W. Valencia Ave.

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City of Hemet police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene after a woman called 911 and reported that her son was suffering from a gunshot wound.

When officials arrived at the scene and began treating the young victim they learned of a second juvenile struck by gunfire and began treating the other child.

Officials responding to reports of a Hemet shooting found two juvenile gunshot victims, ages 10 and 13. One was struck in the thigh and was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital. The other victim was struck in the chest and was airlifted to an area trauma center in critical condition.

Based on one of the children’s gunshot wounds officials requested an air ambulance; at which time Mercy Air was launched to the area.

While paramedics tended to the two wounded juveniles, officers established a crime scene and began searching for a vehicle seen fleeing the area after one of its occupants opened fire on the group. It was described black Dodge Charger, with an unknown number of occupants.

Despite searching for the vehicle it was not immediately located.

After being stabilized at the scene the child struck in the thigh was rushed by ground ambulance to an area hospital; while the other, more seriously injured child, was airlifted to a nearby trauma center by Mercy Air Medical Transport.

His condition at the time was described by officials as critical.

One of two young shooting victims who was shot in the chest was airlifted to an area trauma center in critical condition. Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photo

Witnesses later reported the two injured victims were among a group of adults that were lighting fireworks in the carport area and alley of the apartment complex.

According to witnesses, moments after a round of fireworks was set off and exploded, a black Dodge Charger drove up to the entrance of the alley and fired an unknown number of rounds, hitting the two children.

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As of this report no further information was available regarding the shooting or the current condition of the two gunshot victims.

Anyone with information about this ongoing investigation or who knows the identity of the alleged shooter(s) is encouraged to immediately contact Hemet PD at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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John Strangis/EN Media productions photos below

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Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photos below

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.