Teens Accused Of Gunning Down MoVal Man Arraigned

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Two reputed gang members accused of shooting two men -- one fatally -- in Moreno Valley pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder and other charges.

Carl DaShawn Johnson and Marius Reno Metoyer, both 18, were arrested following a Riverside County sheriff's investigation into the Christmas Eve attack that claimed the life of 25-year-old Noe Reyes of Moreno Valley and wounded a second man, whose name was not disclosed.

Along with the murder count, Johnson and Metoyer are each charged with attempted murder and a special circumstance allegation of committing a murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, along with gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The pair were arraigned before Superior Court Judge David Gunn, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Feb. 22 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Johnson is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta; Metoyer is being held without bail at the Indio Jail.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Walter Mendez, Reyes and his friend were shot near the front of the Rio Rancho Mall in the 25200 block of Perris Boulevard about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24.

Both victims were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where Reyes died that night.

Detectives developed leads pointing to Johnson and Metoyer as the alleged perpetrators, and warrants were served on Dec. 27 at the defendants' respective properties, where guns and other evidence connecting them to the attack were seized, Mendez alleged.

He did not disclose whether the victims were members of a rival gang, nor with which gang Johnson and Metoyer are allegedly affiliated.

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in adult court.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock