Menifee Neighborhood Fired On During Darkness; PD Announces Arrest

MENIFEE, CA — A two-week investigation into a middle-of-the-night shooting in a Menifee neighborhood led to the arrest Thursday of a 52-year-old man, police announced.

Wilfred Fonteno of Menifee was taken into custody late afternoon and booked into Southwest Dentention Center on suspicion of felony weapons charges, according to the Menifee Police Department.

The trail to Fonteno started around 3 a.m. May 8 when Menifee police were called to the area of Northshore Drive regarding multiple reports of gunfire. Officers searched the neighborhood but did not find a suspect, victims or any evidence, the department said.

A few hours later, around 6 a.m., more calls came into police. This time, residents were reporting bullet holes in their vehicles. No injuries were reported.

Police worked to identify a suspect responsible for the gunfire and on Thursday they turned up at a home in the 29000 block of Cottonwood Cove Drive in Menifee armed with a search warrant.

"During the search of the residence, evidence was located which helped identify the subject who is believed to be responsible for the shooting," according to Menifee police.

Fonteno was taken into custody though a possible motive for the alleged gunfire was not disclosed.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Menifee Police Detective
Ramirez at 951-723-1614 or email jramirez@menifeepolice.org.