Suspect sketch released in deadly Indio shooting

The Indio Police Department released a composite sketch on Thursday in hopes of tracking down the man responsible for a deadly shooting in front of the Casa Serena Apartments on Thursday, May 21.

Eric Ray Lorenzo Jara, 26, was killed and another man was wounded when the shots rang out in front of the complex, located at 46-595 Vargas Street, just after 9:30 p.m.

The coroner’s office released the victim’s identity on Friday, June 19 after withholding it for nearly a month due to the ongoing investigation.

According to a release from Sgt. Dan Marshall, the wounded victim told police an unknown man confronted them after they noticed he and an unknown female arguing in a mid to late 90’s luxury sedan.

Marshall said the suspect fought with both victims and as the fight ended, the suspect grabbed a silver .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and chased the victims to their car. The man shot into the victim’s vehicle several times as they were leaving the area.

Police said the suspect is a Hispanic man between the ages of 25-35 and he may have been injured in the fight, and if so, he may have sustained injuries to his face/lower extremities.

The shooter fled the area with the female accomplice in a lowered, four-door sedan with chrome rims; possibly a Cadillac, Lexus or BMW. The car was said to have a distinct or custom gold/champagne paint job, officers said in the initial release.

When emergency crews arrived to the scene, officers immediately began performing CPR on the 26-year-old victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim, a 29-year-old man, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center by Cal Fire and he was in stable condition, Sgt. Dan Marshall said.

Jara’s family and friends have been in contact with News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 and they said they’ve been handing out flyers in their neighborhood to seek justice for their loved one. They’re also offering a cash reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Jara’s sister said her brother wasn’t involved in gangs and he was interested in fitness and body building.

Detectives with the Indio Police Department continue to investigate the homicide. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call police at 760-391-4057.

We’ll continue to track the investigation and deliver new details as soon as they’re available.