A probationer accused of gunning down a 24-year-old Riverside man with whom he had prior conflicts pleaded not guilty Friday to murder.
David Norman Gurley, 54, of Moreno Valley was arrested last month following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of Sidney Thompson.
Along with murder, Gurley is charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
He was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge O.G. Magno, who scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 19 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Gurley was being on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, Gurley and Thompson had been at odds prior to the alleged attack on June 2, though the reasons weren’t disclosed. The defendant worked in the area of Box Springs Road and Quail Valley Court, and he would frequently encounter the victim there.
About 6:20 a.m. on June 2, the two men were involved in an unspecified confrontation at the location, culminating in Gurley allegedly pulling a handgun and shooting Thompson, Railsback said.
Passersby found Thompson lying next to a car and called 911. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics minutes later.
Railsback said detectives developed leads that ultimately pointed to Gurley as the alleged perpetrator, and the convicted felon was taken into custody without incident in the area of Golden Avenue and 45th Street in Jurupa Valley on June 18.
According to court records, he has multiple drug-related convictions.