Deputies have arrested a second Twentynine Palms man in connection with a drive-by shooting in Twentynine Palms earlier this month. Deputies say that Joshua Hill, 18, got in an argument with residents over his driving in the 72700 block of Wildcat Way in Twentynine Palms about 9:30 p.m. September 6. Hill left and returned about 10 minutes later, with another man, identified as Branden Smith, 18, in the car with him. The victim, who was sitting on his front porch when Hill returned, said Hill challenged him to a fight. When he refused, he said Hill fired eight shots at him and his wife. Two of the bullets hit the house, but no one was hit or injured. Hill and Smith then fled. Joshua Hill was arrested September 11 in Palm Springs and pleaded not guilty yesterday. He is being held on $1 million bail. Then about 2 p.m. yesterday, deputies served a search warrant on a home in the 7500 block of Persia Avenue in Twentynine Palms and arrested Branden Smith for investigation of attempted murder. Branden Smith was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $1 million.
