Two in custody for attempted murder

Porterville Police Department officers encountered a male victim lying in the roadway suffering from a gunshot wound near a vehicle on Morton Avenue at Indiana Street at approximately 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Officers were able to obtain a description of an involved vehicle and minutes later the vehicle was located and stopped. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries which were nonlife threatening. PPD detectives were summoned to assume control of the investigation.

During the investigation, detectives learned the shooting occurred in the 100 block of East Gibson Avenue. The juvenile driver of the suspect vehicle lured the victim to that area after an earlier confrontation, where an associate of the juvenile suspect shot the victim.

Santos Moreno, a previously convicted felon, who resides a short distance from where the shooting occurred was contacted and positively identified as the suspect who shot the victim.

A search warrant for Moreno’s residence was authored by detectives and granted by a Superior Court Judge. During the search, detectives located a firearm believed to be used in the shooting along with ammunition.

Santos Moreno was arrested and booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s

Office Porterville sub-station for attempted murder, conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The confidential juvenile was arrested and booked at Juvenile Hall for attempted murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bail.