Felon Charged In Shooting Of Moreno Valley Man While Children Present

MORENO VALLEY, CA — A convicted felon accused of shooting a man during a confrontation in Moreno Valley where children were present was charged Tuesday with firearm assault and other offenses.

Luis Alberto Duran Villalobos, 34, of Moreno Valley was arrested Thursday following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.

Along with the firearm assault count, Villalobos is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded gun and two counts of child endangerment.

He's being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside and was slated to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Christopher Varela, on the afternoon of Sept. 22, Villalobos was involved in an unspecified confrontation with the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, on Frederick Street, near Sunnymead Boulevard.

During the encounter, the defendant allegedly pulled a handgun and shot the victim, Varela said.

Court records indicated that two minors were present when the shooting occurred but were not injured.

Varela said Villalobos fled the location before deputies arrived.

The victim was taken to nearby Riverside University Medical Center for treatment. He's now recovering from his wound.

A possible motive for the attack was not provided.

In the ensuing investigation, detectives identified Villalobos as the alleged assailant, culminating in a search warrant being obtained and served at his apartment in the 12700 block of Frederick on Thursday, Varela said.

The defendant was taken into custody without incident.

According to court records, he has prior convictions for identity theft and felony vandalism.