Teen Shot in Face in French Valley

A teen was shot in the face in French Valley, and several people were detained for questioning.

The victim's brother reported the shooting around 3:25 p.m. today in the Casa Bella condominiums off Benton Road in the 36000 block of Bastiano Lane, according to Riverside County Sheriff Department officials.

The 16-year-old victim--who was not named as of 7 p.m.--was rushed to the Inland Valley Regional Medical Center, according to a sheriff's dispatcher.

A 15-year-old Hispanic boy was being sought for questioning in relation to an assault with a deadly weapon and was "possibly in possession of a small-caliber pistol" today. He drives a red Toyota Tundra, according to a dispatcher.

The shooting happened in the street in front of the family's condo, according to neighbors.

"The guy was lying on the ground, and the other kid was standing over him on the phone," said James Priest, who lives in the complex. "He was just screaming like a baby holding his face."

As patrol cars crowded the parking lot and deputies put up yellow police tape, neighbors gathered on the streets, though none said they heard gun shots.

"I thought he fell off the balcony," Priest said.

A neighbor who was visiting friends in a condo across a small parking lot said the afternoon was quiet until patrol cars arrived. "We didn't hear a thing," said Mark Seymour, a Corona resident.

Three people who appeared to be teenagers were detained in patrol cars and questioned, though no arrests were made, according to sheriff's Cpl. Courtney Donowho.

The wound seemed minor, according to some bystanders who saw the victim put into an ambulance.

"It wasn't even dripping. It was just a little line of blood," said neighbor Drew Avilla as he pointed to the corner of his eye.

The victim's face near the wound seemed bruised and swollen, despite the absence of blood, witnesses said.

Some neighbors were unsurprised to see something like this happen because deputies are called to the area often.

"This place has turned into such a ghetto," Priest said.

Investigators were unsure of the circumstances surrounding the shooting as of tonight, Donowho said "It could be accidental, it could be a mistake, it could be a suicide attempt, we don't know," she said.