Banning Double Homicide: Arraignment Scheduled Wednesday

BANNING, CA — A 22-year-old man accused of gunning down two people and seriously wounding a third during an attack near Interstate 10 in Banning is slated to be arraigned Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Dorian Alexander Francisco of Banning was arrested Dec. 30 following the attack in the 3300 block of Ramsey Street, just west of Sunset Avenue.

Along with the murder and attempted murder counts, Francisco is charged with special circumstance allegations of taking multiple lives in a crime, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The special circumstance makes him eligible for capital punishment — if he's convicted and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office elects to pursue the death penalty.

Francisco, who is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility, is slated to appear before Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton at the Banning Justice Center Wednesday.

According to the Banning Police Department, Francisco allegedly shot the three victims shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 28 in a non-residential area less than a quarter-mile north of Interstate 10.

Police did not provide information on the possible circumstances, or a motive, saying only that the victims were part of a group gathered at the location.

After the gunfire erupted, witnesses called 911, and patrol officers converged on the scene, from which the shooter had fled, authorities said.

One victim, identified in court documents only as "Michael G.," was pronounced dead by paramedics. The other two victims were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley with life-threatening wounds. One of the patients, identified in documents as "Mayra G.," died at the hospital, according to police.

The third victim, whose name was not disclosed, is recovering from his wounds.

Detectives quickly developed leads pointing to Francisco as the alleged perpetrator, and a multi-agency search was initiated, netting results on the afternoon of Dec. 30, when Banning patrol officers took the defendant into custody without incident on East Ramsey Street.

Francisco has no documented prior felony or misdemeanor convictions in Riverside County. His only listed offenses are for being an unlicensed driver and speeding last March. Both were infractions, resulting in fines.