Banning man accused of perpetrating deadly shooting arraigned
City News Service
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A young man accused of gunning down a 19-year-old man during a dispute in Moreno Valley pleaded not guilty today to murder and other charges.
Jacob Nulen Necochea, also 19, of Banning, allegedly killed Angelo Leivas of Banning in August.
In addition to murder, Necochea is charged with sentence-enhancing gunand great bodily injury allegations.
The defendant was arraigned Monday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Jan. 16 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Necochea is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
According to sheriff’s investigators, just after 4 a.m. Aug. 17, the defendant and Leivas were involved in an unspecified confrontation as Necochea sat in his vehicle in the 13000 block of Day Street, near Eucalyptus Avenue, less than a mile east of Interstate 215.
During hostilities, Necochea allegedly pulled a handgun and shot the victim several times, sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro said.
He alleged that Necochea “fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival.” Paramedics reached the scene minutes later and discovered Leivas gravely wounded. The young man died that morning at nearby Riverside University Medical Center.
“Deputies obtained a description of the suspect vehicle and, about an hour later, found it in Moreno Valley,” Loureiro said. “Deputies detained the driver (Necochea), who was the sole occupant.”
The defendant was questioned by Central Homicide Unit detectives, who formally arrested him hours later for the alleged attack.
A possible motive wasn’t disclosed, and there were no details regarding how the defendant and victim knew one another.
Necochea has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.