Banning Teen Fatally Shot in Hemet

A Banning teenager was fatally wounded in a shooting Monday night in Hemet and died later at a hospital, according to Hemet police and the Riverside County coroner.

The shooting was reported at 10:41 p.m. in the 1100 block of Valencia Avenue, Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said in a statement.

When officers arrived they found three shooting victims - two males and a female - in two different locations, Wisehart said.

The three victims were taken to local hospitals, and one of the male victims was later pronounced dead at Hemet Valley Medical Center, according to Wisehart and coroner's officials.

The other two victims were still in the hospital and expected to survive, Wisehart said Tuesday afternoon inn a phone interview.

The deceased victim was identified by coroner's officials as a 17-year-old male and a resident of Banning.

None of the victims' names were released.

"The motive for the shootings is unknown, but preliminary evidence indicates that the incident may be gang related," Wisehart said.

It was reported that as many as eight black male suspects were involved in the shooting and were seen running on foot from the scene, Wisehart said.

Detectives were called in to take over the investigation. Anyone with further information was urged to contact Hemet police at (951) 765-2400.