NEWBURY PARK : 2 Teen-Agers to Stand Trial in Shooting

Two teen-agers charged with firing at least 30 bullets into a Newbury Park home and injuring a pregnant woman were ordered to stand trial Wednesday after the victim and police investigators testified against them.

Danny Duarte, 17, and William Morris, 18, earlier were found unfit to be tried in juvenile court and were transferred to the adult system. Both were juveniles Oct. 18 when they allegedly injured the victim after mistaking her home as the residence of a rival gang member.

During a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Ventura County Municipal Judge Roland Purnell found that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to try the two.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Frank O’Hanlon testified that Morris told police that he, Duarte and a 16-year-old being tried as a juvenile in the case went to Newbury Park to shoot at the house of the suspected gang member.

The three believed that the gang member had previously opened fire on Duarte, O’Hanlon testified.

“I asked Mr. Morris how or why they had shot at the wrong house,” the sergeant said. “He responded that some idiot had given them wrong directions.”

The victim, who was shot in the leg, later delivered a healthy baby daughter. However, she testified Wednesday that her leg remains numb and that she has been unable to jog since being shot.

Morris of Oxnard and Duarte of Newbury Park will be arraigned April 19. The 16-year-old is scheduled to go on trial Monday. All three are charged with shooting at an occupied dwelling, assault with a firearm and conspiracy.