Police Release More Information on Palm Springs Shooting Thursday

Police released new information Friday on a shooting in downtown Palm Springs that sent two men to the hospital just as village fest, and the large crowds it brings every Thursday night, was wrapping up. The shooting happened at 10:06 on Baristo Road and South Palm Canyon Drive.

Michelle Gonzalez, manager at Oooh La La clothing store, learned about the shooting from her two employees.

“They had already closed the store and one of them was close to our entrances and she looked outside and she could see what looked like a fight was going on,” Gonzalez said.

According to Palm Springs police, they responded to a brawl involving a group of men that broke out in front of the Chop House Restaurant, located right next to the Village Pub.

Gonzalez says her employee watched as two men took off running towards a bus stop nearby, and a few minutes later….

“They heard gunshots, and it wasn’t just one or two gunshots.. it was multiple gunshots, so it was really scary,” she said, “There were people off of the street, you know the street fair had just closed, so they were trying to get into the store because they were scared,” Gonzalez said.

Police say the two people who suffered gunshot wounds were transported to Desert Regional Medical center to be treated. One of the victims is in stable condition, while the other is in critical, but stable condition as well. Police have not identified them, but say the two men are 20-years-old and 19-years-old.

Across the street at Expresso Cielo, the manager of a coffee shop says she’s relieved to know no one else was hurt.

“I mean, it’s really busy out here at night and there’s always people around. So, I mean, it’s scary that it can come to that extreme and that it could have hurt so many people besides the two that were involved,” said Doniell Dentice.

Store manager Gonzalez says she’s worked downtown for years and has never felt unsafe.

“It’s scary but its not going to change the way that I feel about downtown, its unfortunate that it happened,” she said.

Police have not said whether the two incidents are connected. So far, no arrests have been made.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Palm Springs Police Department or Valley Crime Stoppers 760-341-STOP.