An 18-year-old Banning man is behind bars after investigators say he opened fire on westbound Interstate 10 on May 9, injuring a woman riding in the backseat of a Chevrolet Suburban. The victim was taken to a regional trauma center with a non-life-threatening arm wound and is expected to recover. Authorities say the suspect was arrested in Banning later that night.
The shooting happened at about 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, in the westbound lanes near Highland Springs Avenue, according to CBS Los Angeles. Preliminary findings from the CHP indicate a black sedan pulled up alongside the Suburban and someone "leaned out of the right rear passenger side window with a handgun" and opened fire. The Suburban's driver exited at a nearby gas station and called 911.
The woman was hit in the arm and transported to a hospital for treatment, as reported by KESQ. Investigators from the CHP's Border Division Major Crimes Unit later joined the Banning Police Department on the case, adding extra muscle to the freeway shooting probe.
Detectives arrested James Charles Pitchford II, 18, of Banning, late Saturday on East Ramsey Street, according to MyNewsLA. Officials say Pitchford was identified during the CHP's follow-up investigation and was taken into custody without incident.
Legal Status And Charges
Riverside County prosecutors have charged Pitchford with attempted murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle, along with sentence-enhancing allegations for use of a firearm and infliction of great bodily injury, according to Riverside County court records. A judge set bail at $2 million, according to CBS Los Angeles, and the case remains pending as attorneys prepare for upcoming hearings.
What Investigators Say
Investigators have not released a motive and say the probe is still active. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Border Division Major Crimes Unit detectives at (858) 944-6300, as reported by KESQ. Authorities have also urged drivers who were in the area to review dash-cam or surveillance footage from the early-morning hours of May 9 and share any video that could help the investigation.
Freeway shootings and vehicle-to-vehicle attacks have hit the 10 in recent years, causing massive traffic jams and complicated crime scenes, a pattern we have previously covered at Hoodline. Those incidents highlight how dangerous gunfire at highway speeds can be and how difficult it is for investigators to piece together fast-moving encounters that unfold in the dark.
Pitchford remains held in the county jail on $2 million bail. Court records show he has pleaded not guilty at arraignment and is scheduled to return for further proceedings in Riverside County Superior Court.
