Coachella City Leaders Speak Out Against Gang Violence

COACHELLA – Joined by middle school students, city leaders spoke out against gang violence.

This comes after the December 3rd murder of Angel Luna. Someone shot him as the teenager rode his bike. Police believe 26-year-old Angel Esparza pulled the trigger.

The shooting happened next to the Coachella Boys and Girls Club. Director Quinton Egson remembers that painful day, “To be honest with you, I started to weep. I love the kids and when a kid is taken from us at that age, they don’t have a chance to truly live.”

Angel Esparza had just been paroled the previous week. He is a known gang member and he remains on the loose.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Danville explains, “There are an estimated 472 gang members here in the city of Coachella alone. We have 2,000 in the Coachella Valley.”

Coachella Police Chief Rodney Vigue adds, “We’re going to continue to use our gang task force officers and saturation patrols to be out there in the community.”

For Assemblyman Manuel Perez, this gang violence reminds him of someone he lost 19 years ago, “My best friend, Alejandro Aguilar, was shot and killed in a drive by shooting on the same street we grew up on, the same street we played football with, we played freeze tag, we used to play on. We can’t continue that cycle of violence anymore. That’s why we’re here today.”

For all the programs, and all the political initiatives, these children may only be truly helped by one group.

We ask Quinton Egson of the Boys and Girls Club how parents should get involved. He answers, “For the parents, I say be vigilant and be there. Let your kids know you care about them. Let your kids know that you want them around. Let your kids know that their opinions, what’s really important to them matters.”

A group of Coachella mothers is holding a vigil against gang violence at Dateland Park Sunday at 4:00.