Desert Teen Shootings, Stabbings Concern Residents

It’s been a violent month for Coachella Valley teens.

On June 5, a 17-year-old was set on fire in Coachella by suspected gang members.

Over the weekend, Palm Springs Police arrested another teenager and accused him of hate crimes, and Tuesday, a judge allowed four teenagers accused of stabbing a Desert Hot Springs man to death to receive jail visits from their mothers.

DHSPD also announced another arrest in relation to the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Jose Villalobos.

The 17-year-old suspect is now one of six teens in custody and charged with murder in that case.

Kids have too much time on their hands, leaving some fearful of walking around their own neighborhoods, according to residents.

The district attorney’s office has not yet released a motive in the Desert Hot Springs case. But “it is going to be charged as a gang case, yes,” said Dave Anderson, deputy district attorney.

Two of the four teens who stood in a Riverside County courtroom Tuesday are only 14-years-old. But one bad decision could lock them behind bars until their last breath.

“As an adult, it is a life crime,” said Anderson. “Murder is a life crime for anyone over 14.”

Last night in Cathedral City, officers found a handgun and several bullets on a teenage boy.

Several neighbors called police after hearing gunshots.

“Those kids that were arrested last night, they had a baby face. They looked like 15-year-olds,” said Jessica Madrigal, a neighbor referring to two 15-year-old and 16-year-old males involved in an argument on the 30-500 block of Avenida Maravilla.

One of the teens allegedly pulled out a gun and shot it at the home.

No one was injured, but the teens were found and arrested near Madrigal’s home.

“It’s the parents’ fault,” she said. “Parents don’t know where their kids are at.”

Marbel Martinez also lives near the shooting, and she is expecting more youth related crimes since school is out.

“I’d rather be having them do sports,” she said. “Being involved in sports or go look for a job or something.”

“There’s… YMCA programs here they can be at,” said Madrigal.

Or, they could let their aggression out practicing karate.

“We teach not only the art of kicking and punching,” said Arnold Sandubrae, a local Sensei. “We teach discipline, respect and tradition.”

Just last weeks ago, a former student told Sandubrae that karate saved his life.

“He said to me, ‘Sensei, if it wasn’t for you, I’d be sitting on the other side of the police car,'” Sandubrae explained. “He’s now a police officer.”

Over the weekend in Palm Springs, three homes were vandalized.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with damaging property to violate civil rights. Anti-gay slurs were spray painted on cars and garage doors.

“It had the earmarks of a hate crime,” said Robert, a neighbor who witnessed the graffiti.

Neighbor Michael Nau said the teenage suspect should “grow up. I mean, grow up in a better way than he’s heading.”

A message for all teens heading down a dark path.

“They are in gangs and it’s just pointless,” said Martinez. “There’s no need for that.”

The Desert Hot Springs case is still under investigation.

Police officials are anticipating more arrests.