Public Safety
UPDATED: Jury Seated for Trial of Felon Accused of Killing Girlfriend
BANNING (CNS) – Jury selection began Thursday in the trial of a 40-year- old felon accused of chasing down and shooting his roommate during an altercation that erupted over money at their Hemet apartment.
Dante Trimell Cooper was arrested in March 2022 after the alleged attack in the 300 block of West Kimball Avenue, near State Street.
Cooper is charged with attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a loaded gun and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
After ruling on pretrial motions, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Rene Navarro summoned several panels of prospective jurors to the Banning Justice Center Thursday for screening as to their availability and qualifications. The judge ordered additional prospects to the courthouse Friday, when jury selection will resume.
Opening statements in the trial are expected early next week. Cooper is being held on $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
According to Hemet police Lt. Nathan Miller, about 4:30 p.m. March 2, 2022, Cooper was involved in a heated exchange with his roommate, identified only as a 42-year-old man with the initials “J.M.,” at their Kimball Avenue apartment.
Miller said the argument, connected to cost sharing, escalated into a fight, and the roommate “hit (the defendant) in the face and head and began running.”
“(Cooper) chased after the man and then shot him several times,” the lieutenant alleged.
Patrol officers reached the location within a couple of minutes and found the victim wounded but conscious, according to Miller.
He said the man pointed out Cooper, who was nearby, and the defendant was taken into custody without a struggle.
The victim underwent surgery at a regional trauma center and has since recovered.
Cooper was treated for his injuries and transported to jail.
Court records show that he has a prior conviction in 2002 out of San Diego County for voluntary manslaughter with a firearm. There was no mention of how much time he served in state prison for the felony.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
By: Pristine Villarreal
April 20, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
⚡️ TOP STORY: A man is recovering after he was struck by lightning. Firefighters battled a brush fire along Snow Creek Road, while another lightning strike in Chino Canyon sent a man to the hospital. If you hear thunder, stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble. #PalmSprings #Lightning #FireSafety
🚨 Chasing that year-round “summer glow”? A social media tanning trend involving the unapproved peptide melanotan-2 is raising serious safety concerns. Dermatologists say safer sunless tanning options are available. ☀️ #YourHealthToday #SkinHealth #Melanotan2 #TanningSafety
Palm Springs firefighters responded Thursday to a report of a person struck by lightning in the Chino Canyon area. The person was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Firefighters also responded to a palm tree fire in Chino Canyon that officials say was caused by an apparent lightning strike. NBC Palm Springs News Director David Reese is in the neighborhood tonight knocking on doors and trying to learn more about what happened. Did you see the lightning strike? Did you hear or see anything unusual? Do you know who was struck or have information that could help us understand what happened? We’d like to hear from you. Send us a DM here or contact NBC Palm Springs if you witnessed the incident or have information to share. #PalmSprings #ChinoCanyon #Lightning #PalmSpringsNews #NBCPalmSprings CoachellaValley BreakingNews
Fred Roggin’s response? Show us the receipts! #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
A $557k budget shortfall … so why do they need $11.3 million in new taxes? Are you voting Yes or No on Measure P? #therogginreport #measurep #localnews #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings
School board trustee wears “FAFO” shirt to court deposition. Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇🏽 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
Estevan Figueroa of King’s Club Barbershop is giving back across the Coachella Valley — one haircut at a time. He and his team recently gave dozens of free haircuts to kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Cathedral City. Figueroa also provides clothing, essentials and encouragement to people in need. Inspired by lessons from his father, he’s now started a nonprofit to help even more people in the community. “Look good, feel good.” @barbercipactli Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com.
9 months. 5 deposition notices. 1 no-show. What is this official hiding under oath? Let us know what you think in the comments 👇 #therogginreport #jesusgonzalez #localnews #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Tim O’Brien at the Coachella Valley Firebirds training camp!!