Riverside gang member who allegedly shot and killed two boys is ordered to stand trial on murder charges :: The Valley News

Riverside gang member who allegedly shot and killed two boys is ordered to stand trial on murder charges :: The Valley News: "Riverside gang member who allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old boy near the UC Riverside campus to earn credit with another gang was ordered today to stand trial on murder charges.

Arsenio Devo Morgan, 20, was held to answer on two counts of first- degree murder, one count of criminal street gang activity and multiple gun and great bodily injury allegations for the Dec. 14, 2008, slayings of 18-year-old Salvador Soliz and 16-year-old Ramiro Sanchez.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elisabeth Sichel dismissed sentence-enhancing allegations that the shootings were carried out as part of a hate crime.

Morgan, who is serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery, is slated to appear for a post-indictment arraignment on Feb. 25. He faces life in prison without parole if convicted.

The preliminary hearing began Tuesday and continued through Thursday. (There was no court session Friday.) After testimony concluded this morning, Sichel made her ruling.

The courtroom was under tight security following hostile words between members of the victims' families and several of Morgan's supporters Tuesday. Everyone entering the courtroom was searched."

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