News

Authorities identify man killed in Cathedral City shooting

Published September 1, 2017 5:49 PM

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified a man who was shot outside a Cathedral City store late Sunday as David Reyes Gonzalez, 26, of Cathedral City.

Gonzalez died at 2:14 p.m. Monday afternoon at Desert Regional Medical Center from his injuries.

The shooting incident happened shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday night outside the Outpost Market off Ramon Road near Landau Boulevard.

Authorities said a suspect fired into a car occupied by two men.

Officers arrived to find one of the occupants injured. Gonzalez was then transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

The preliminary investigation determined an unidentified suspect fired a shotgun into the vehicle, striking Gonzalez at least once in the upper torso.

“To me he was like a bigger brother showing me around how to do things. It’s hard knowing that he is not going to be here anymore. But I will always look up to him no matter what,” said Fernando Galarza, a friend and coworker of Reyes.

Reyes worked as a mechanic at Palm Springs Hyundai for about 2 and a half years.

“It was tough coming to work and seeing the other technicians wrenching on cars with tears in there eyes and crying and trying to work through it,” said Paul Thompson who also works at the car dealership.

The suspect ran took off from the scene in a Blue sedan. Police described the suspect as a Hispanic man, 20-30 years of age, 5’6″-5’8″, 140 lbs wearing a white shirt with blue shorts.

Friends and family of David are having a 3-day car wash to raise funds for his funeral. If you would like to help it will be held Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.at the Sonic’s on 30-777 Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City.