Hesperia Man Arrested for Shooting Teen Playing Ding-Dong Ditch

HESPERIA, Ca. – A childhood prank led to a shooting and arrest of a 44-year-old Hesperia man on Saturday.

Authorities said that just before 11:00 p.m. three 16-year-old juveniles were ringing doorbells and running away from the homes, a game known as ding-dong ditch. After ringing the doorbell near Peach Avenue and Redding Street at a home belonging to Ronald Batierra the teens ran. Baltierra got into his vehicle and went to locate and confront them. As he saw the teens walking on the street, he approached them. He then kicked and slapped two of the teens and brandished a firearm at them before getting back in is vehicle to leave the area.

The juvenile victims attempted to locate his home in order to report the incident to authorities. Baltierra exited his home as the teens approached. He exchanged words with the teens and the teens began walking away as he fired one round towards them. The round struck one of the teens who was transported to a local hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound. Hospital staff informed authorities that they were treating the juvenile for a gunshot wound.

All three victims positively identified Baltierra as the shooter. Deputies obtained an arrest warrant and a search warrant for his home. He was found to be in possession of multiple firearms, one of them was determined to be stolen. He was arrested for attempted murder and was booked at the High Desert Detention Center. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

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Anyone with information is asked to call the Hesperia Sheriff’s Station Detective Bureau or if they wish to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).