Burglary Suspect Shot in Face by Victim

HESPERIA-(VVNG.com): Deputies from the Hesperia Station were dispatched to Desert Valley Hospital when a 17-year-old patient arrived at 3:39 a.m. on Sunday morning with a gunshot wound to his face. The injured male juvenile, was linked by detectives to his friend 19-year-old John Maldonado. Both males, Hesperia residents were found to be involved in a residential and vehicle burglary reported just hours earlier.

Authorities say, the victim of one of the earlier burglaries feared for the safety of his family and shot in the direction of one of the suspects. At about 11:00 a.m on Sunday morning detectives served a search warrant Maldonado’s home on the 10600 block of Kern Avenue. Stolen property from both burglaries was located along with other stolen property from an unknown location.

Maldonado was arrested and booked at the High Desert Detention Center for burglary. Maldonado is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail. Maldonado was in court Tuesday morning via jail video, and denied all charges. Maldonado is due back in court on December 23rd for a pre-preliminary hearing.

The 17-year-old suspect is still being treated for his injury, but charges were submitted to the District Attorney’s office for consideration. In addition to the property recovered and returned to the known burglary victims, Detectives located the following:

2 paint sprayers, tool box with owner’s name written on it in permanent marker, skill saw, television, WII, Xbox 360 and PS2 game consoles as well as approximately 80 video games. If you were a victim of burglary and believe these may be your items, please have your police report available and contact Detective Rios at the Hesperia Station at 760-947-1500.