Accused Indio Gunman Faces First Court Appearance
A man accused in the shooting of a 4-year-old Indio boy who was struck by a stray bullet in the crossfire between two vehicles is scheduled to be arraigned today.
Javontae Garcia, 26, will enter a plea today on one count of assault with a deadly weapon.
Garcia is accused of firing a bullet during a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting that hit Adam Noah De Leon on Feb. 21 when the boy was outside his Indio home. He was arrested March 5.
Garcia, who is out of custody on a $100,000 bond, allegedly told police he was responsible for the shooting.
“In these 11 days since Adam was injured due to the shooting, we have an arrest that holds this person responsible for their actions and will be held fully accountable for what occurred,” Indio police Chief Bradley Ramos said in a statement when Garcia was arrested.
Though no other arrests have been made, police have not closed the case.
“At this point we feel that more could be involved, but no one has been identified as of yet,” Indio police Cmdr. Ben Guitron said.
Adam was shot in the stomach while in his front yard in the 45600 block of Monte Verde Street when his family was leaving to run errands. Witnesses said suspects in a blue crew-cab pickup truck and a dark-colored Chevrolet S10 Blazer with tinted windows were exchanging gunfire when the child was struck.
The shooting took place just a few blocks from the on-going Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.
Initially listed in critical condition, Adam underwent several surgeries while at Loma Linda Medical Center. He is back home with his family after spending several weeks in the hospital.
