VICTORVILLE — A 21-year-old Victorville man accused of shooting to death a local music producer pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and three other felony charges, court records show
Arieon Damarrea Shoulders was arrested Friday, a day after he allegedly shot and killed Julian Kilgore, 23, and injured another man at a housing complex in Apple Valley.
In addition to denying the murder charge, Shoulders also pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and two counts of robbery, according to court records.
The robbery charges appear to be related to the shooting, but investigators have not spoken publicly about a possible motive for the killing.
Kilgore, of Apple Valley, died at St. Joseph Health, St. Mary late Thursday night, roughly an hour after he was shot, authorities said. The shooting also injured Richard Fenton, 21, of Apple Valley, who was taken to a trauma center and is expected to survive.
Shoulders was in custody Tuesday at High Desert Detention Center and his bail was set at $5 million, court records show. He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 19 for a procedural hearing.
Victor Valley Rescue Mission volunteer Susan Conway said that a memorial fund has been set up with Wells Fargo for the Kilgore family to help pay for funeral expenses. Residents interested in donating money to help with the costs are urged to visit a local Wells Fargo branch and make a donation to account number 6919176922.
Kilgore leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter, family members said.
San Bernardino Count Sheriff's deputies responded to the 21000 block of Nisqually Road in Apple Valley at about 9:25 p.m. Thursday for a report of a shooting. Deputies found Kilgore and Fenton suffering from gunshot wounds upon arrival, and both men were transported to local hospitals.
The next day, neighbors in the area referred to the house in the complex where the incident took place, the furthest away from Nisqually Road, as the "back house." Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one neighbor said the people living there just moved in about three or four months ago.
The neighbor also said they heard five shots ring out in the still of the night Thursday, a man yell something inaudibly and then a car back out and drive away. The neighbor also recalled a "huge" drug bust at the back house three or four years ago.
Neighbors near the housing complex wondered if the shooting was drug-related.
But Kilgore's sister, 20-year-old Krystin Kilgore, dispelled any ideas Monday that the shooting was related to drugs. She said her brother and his friend were shot after organizing a "random Facebook meeting" to sell music.
"It wasn't over drugs," Krystin Kilgore said. "They were trying to sell beats and it took a bad turn and they both ended up shot."
Julian Kilgore and his sister started a music production company called Kali Red Beatz in 2005. Krystin Kilgore said she met with Fenton in the hospital Sunday and found out about the meeting gone awry, adding that her brother and Fenton did not know the suspect, nor had they been prepared for any kind of altercation.
"He so did not deserve it," she said. "He was sensitive, he was a softy. He loved his family, loved his girlfriend, loved his daughter. He would do anything for his family. He was loyal."
Shea Johnson may be reached at 760-955-5368 or SJohnson@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DP_Shea