Man Accused Of Shooting Deputy In DHS Due In Court

INDIO- A man suspected of shooting a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy in the face during a confrontation in Desert Hot Springs is scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing that will determine if he will stand trial.

Javier Trani, 22, is charged with the attempted murder of a peace officer and assault with a firearm on a peace officer causing great bodily injury.

Trani, who is being held without bail in Indio, was found hiding under a pool table in a home in the 15000 block of Avenida Ramada shortly after 5 a.m., the day after the Aug. 30 shooting, according to sheriff’s spokesman Craig Roberts.

Investigators found a revolver near Trani under the pool table, according to court records.

The deputy had seen Trani behaving suspiciously near Camino Campesino and Avenida Florencita, near Bubbling Wells Elementary School, so he stopped his patrol car and went to talk to him, Roberts said.

A struggle ensued, and Trani allegedly pulled a handgun and shot the deputy in the face, causing nose and jaw fractures, then ran off.

The deputy, whose name was not released, did not return fire and radioed for help, according to Roberts.