Mother of Indio shooting victim speaks out in exclusive interview
Liliana Arellano Yanez was gunned down Sunday morning inside a room at room at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Indio. KESQ News Channel 3’s AND CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner sat down for an exclusive interview with Soledad Arellano, who spoke through a translator, about how the family is now struggling to figure out how to pay for the funeral.
“It was very sad for me. It was unexpected,” said Arellano. “That tells me that our lives could be in the hands of any crazy person.”
32-year-old Yanez was shot and killed around 2 a.m. She was born the fifth child out of six siblings, and was also a mother to three of her own children.
“For this, we were not expected and most of us are not prepared so we treated a page for her funeral,” Arellano said. “A lot of people that have come to my home that I didn’t even know to make me stronger and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”
Arellano described her daughter as a popular and lively girl, who dabbled in modeling but fell in with the wrong crowd.
“I feel that she was very naive and that is why what happened, happened,” she said.
The murder took place less than two miles away from where the family lives. Multiple witnesses said there was an argument with at least one man, possibly more and possibly another female, in the hours before the shooting.
“We know that they are going to find the assassin. I ask the community that anybody that knows anything, please call the police,” said Arellano. “I know that there will be justice. And even then, if he were to escape justice on earth- he won’t escape the divine justice and that makes me stronger.”
On Wednesday, the Indio Police Department said they were working the case around the clock. The Royal Plaza Hotel said they turned surveillance video from the time of the shooting over to authorities. The IPD said they could not release the footage to the station due to the ongoing investigation.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Arellano family to help with funeral costs. Also, a yard sale to benefit the family will be held Saturday, Jan. 21st from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 91748 Genoa St. in Coachella.
