Arizona man to be charged with attempted murder after shooting on 91 Fwy.

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2014

Case # TBA

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON 91 FREEWAY

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for attempted murder after a drive-by shooting on the 91 Freeway. Jerry Valentin, 32, Scottsdale, Ariz., was charged today with one felony count each of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm inside a vehicle, with sentencing enhancements for personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, personal use of a firearm, and great bodily injury. If convicted, Valentin faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting he be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2014, Valentin is accused of driving eastbound on the 91 Freeway near the Interstate 5 interchange in Fullerton. The defendant is accused of swerving his vehicle toward a sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by Kenneth Baker.

Valentin is accused of driving alongside the SUV and using a handgun, loaded with shotgun rounds, to fire at least one round at the driver’s side of the victim’s SUV. Valentin is accused of hitting the victim in the arm and torso as a result of the pellets fired from the shotgun round.

The defendant is accused of discarding the gun on the freeway and driving away from the scene. The victim called 911 and continued to follow the defendant’s vehicle.

At approximately 4:45 p.m. the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stopped a vehicle matching the description of the defendant’s vehicle on the eastbound 91 Freeway near the 241 toll road interchange. The Fullerton Police Department arrived to the scene and arrested the defendant.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Duff of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486