Moreno Valley Teen Charged With Attempted Murder

MORENO VALLEY, CA — A young man accused of shooting a teenager during a dispute in Moreno Valley was charged Thursday with attempted murder.

Willie Lee Clark Jr., 18, of Moreno Valley was arrested and booked Tuesday into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, where he's being held on $1 million bail.

Along with the attempted murder count, Clark is charged with sentence- enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sean Crandell, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for April 25 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Ed Baeza, about 3 p.m. Monday, the defendant was involved in an unspecified confrontation with the victim, identified only as a Moreno Valley boy, in the 27000 block of Brodiaea Avenue, near Nason Street.

Clark allegedly pulled a gun and shot the teen, then fled the scene, Baeza said.

He said patrol deputies and paramedics arrived a short time later and found the boy seriously wounded. The victim was taken to nearby Riverside University Medical Center for treatment. There was no word on his condition Thursday.

A possible motive for the shooting wasn't disclosed.

Baeza said detectives obtained a description of the alleged shooter, ultimately identified as Clark, who was located and taken into custody without incident about 3 a.m. Tuesday on Tradewinds Place.

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. However, he has an unresolved misdemeanor domestic violence case pending, and it's expected that case will be consolidated with the new one.