Man Charged With Trying To Shoot Lake Elsinore Resident

MURRIETA, CA — A man who allegedly tried to shoot a patron at a Lake Elsinore business was charged Friday with attempted murder and other felonies. Joseph David Telles, 34, of El Cerrito was arrested Wednesday following a nearly three-week-long sheriff's investigation into the attack in the 31000 block of Riverside Drive, just off of Lakeshore Drive.

Along with the attempted murder count, Telles is charged with gun assault and reckless discharge of a firearm.

The defendant made his initial court appearance before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Mandio, who appointed him an attorney and scheduled his arraignment for Jan. 29 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Telles is being held in lieu of $1.1 million bail at the nearby Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Brett Seckinger, the defendant went to the Riverside Drive business on Dec. 2 about 6 p.m. and allegedly opened fire with a handgun, targeting a man inside. After firing several shots, Telles fled the scene, the sergeant alleged. No one was hurt.

Deputies swept the area, but could not locate the gunman. Over the next several weeks, detectives gathered information from witnesses and developed information pointing to Telles as the alleged perpetrator. A possible motive for the attack was not disclosed, nor did authorities release the name of the business where the shooting occurred or the name of the alleged victim.

The defendant was arrested without incident at his workplace on Minneapolis Street in Corona on Wednesday afternoon.

According to court records, he has a prior misdemeanor conviction for drug-related activity.

— By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department