EL CAJON, Calif. -- A Marine and documented gang member accused of trading shots with two CHP officers and trying to run one of them down after a pursuit in El Cajon must stand trial on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Edward Michael Forney, 19, faces life in prison with parole if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rose.

El Cajon Judge Louis Hanoian ruled after a daylong preliminary hearing that enough evidence had been presented for Forney to stand trial Dec. 7.

California Highway Patrol officers tried to pull over a driver on Interstate 8 last Aug. 9, suspecting he was under the influence, and a high-speed pursuit ensued, ending on East Madison Avenue, Rose said.

Both the passenger, Forney, and the driver, 23-year-old Charles Henderson Neal, got out of the car and starting running, the prosecutor said.

As the officers chased Neal, they heard 10 gunshots coming from the area of the car, Rose said.

Forney made his way back to the Honda, jumped into the driver's seat and aimed the car at one of the officers, prompting the lawman to fire at the vehicle, according to the prosecutor.

The bullet-riddled vehicle was later found abandoned on state Route 125 in Spring Valley.

Forney was detained at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar the next day, and Neal, also a documented gang member, was arrested later.

Arresting officers learned Forney had a minor injury to his left thigh that appeared to be a graze wound. The injury was consistent with a bullet hole in the driver's seat of the vehicle that Forney used to try to run over one of the officers, according to El Cajon police.

Before Tuesday's preliminary hearing, Neal pleaded guilty to felony evading and was immediately sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Charles Ervin.