Police seeking suspect in Indio shooting

Officers were looking Sunday for a man suspected in a shooting during an argument that left the victim in critical condition, according to an Indio police spokesman.

The shooting took place at about 10:55 p.m. Saturday in the 82-300 block of Valencia Street in Indio, said Benjamin Guitron of the Indio police.

“When officers arrived, they discovered that an argument had occurred between two couples and a suspect involved in the dispute used a handgun to shoot a male adult, age 41, of Indio, in the neck area,” Guitron said. “The suspect fled the area and the shooting victim was immediately transported by private vehicle to John F. Kennedy hospital in Indio by friends.”

The shooting suspect was identified by witnesses as Jesse Martin Gonzales, Jr. of Indio, who is wanted for being a parolee at large and for an assault with a deadly weapon charge, Guitron said.

He did not disclose the identity of the victim.

Indio police asked anyone with information about the incident to call (760) 391-4057 or Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867 for anonymous tips.