Social Media Post Of Child With Gun Leads To La Quinta Arrest

LA QUINTA, CA — An investigation into video posted on social media showing "documented criminal street gang members and juveniles with firearms" led to the arrest Thursday of a La Quinta man on suspicion of child endangerment and a misdemeanor weapons charge, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported.

David Moreno, 19, was arrested at 12 p.m. Thursday after a search warrant was served at an apartment in the 47000 block of Dune Palms Road.

According to the sheriff's department, Moreno was the man shown in the social media video pointing a loaded handgun at a child then giving the firearm to a minor "to display the gun on camera."

During the search of the apartment, gang task force members found various items of gang indicia, the sheriff's department reported.

In September, gang task force served a search warrant at the same apartment and turned up an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and gang indicia, according to the sheriff's department.

Jail records show Moreno was released from custody Thursday after posting $35,000 bail. He is due in court Feb. 25, 2021.