Hesperia man charged with attempted murder

By Charity Lindsey
Staff Writer

A 21-year-old man was charged with attempted murder Saturday following a hit-and-run which left a pedestrian with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Shelby Morin of Hesperia was driving a gray Dodge truck when he struck a pedestrian outside of the AMPM gas station on Bear Valley and Kiowa roads around 2 a.m. Saturday.

Deputies were able to find and stop the truck on Main Street in Hesperia, where Morin was detained and later booked at the High Desert Detention Center.

The victim, 30-year-old Apple Valley resident Eric Miles, was accompanied by several family members and friends at the AMPM, who were witnesses to the incident.

Miles’ sister, Gina Portuguez, 38, told the Daily Press they had all just come from Gator’s Sports Bar & Grill in Apple Valley, where they met Morin and a couple of his friends on their way out.

“We were heading out and we met some people — they were younger — and they wanted to go out and drink some more,” Portuguez said. “We just weren’t feelin’ it. We told them we were leaving, and they end up following us.”

Portuguez said Morin, along with the other people in his truck, who she described as two other young men, began yelling at Miles. Miles and his wife, Lindsey, were both out of their car arguing with Morin and his passengers before Morin drove away.

“My sister-in-law and brother are walking back to the car, and the kid driving (flips around),” Portuguez said. “We’re telling Eric to get out of the way, but he probably didn’t think he was going to hit him with the car.”

Morin drove away and Miles’ family immediately called 911.

Portuguez said Miles was transported to Desert Valley Hospital before being airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center.

“He’s been in surgery for at least three hours and there’s at least two hours to go,” Portuguez said at 4 p.m. Saturday. “He has a shattered pelvis, a broken leg in two spots and blood in his brain — his brain is swollen up.”

Witnesses were able to identify Morin, who was charged with attempted murder with a bail of $1 million, authorities said. His court date is set for July 12.

Staff Writer Charity Lindsey can be reached at 760-951-6245 or clindsey@vvdailypress.com. Follow her on Twitter @DP_Charity.