Police search for suspect in car-to-car shooting in Palm Desert

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies closed southbound Washington Street in Palm Desert Wednesday night and early Thursday morning from Hovley Lane to Avenue of the States as they investigated a car-to-car shooting.

Officers from the Palm Desert Police Department were called to the scene around 9 p.m. Police said there was apparently a confrontation between the drivers of two vehicles and at least one shot was fired.

A man was found in a gray car at the Shell gas station at the southeast corner of the Albertson’s Shopping Center, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Authorities said he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition shortly after 9 p.m.

His car appeared to have struck a brick wall separating the Shell station from a neighboring Jiffy Lube service shop.

The suspect’s car is described as a white SUV.

Investigators with the Palm Desert Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Central Homicide Unit are handling the investigation.

There’s no word on the victim’s condition.

“There’s a school right down the street from here,” said Francisco Terredanio who lives just down the block.

“Kids are getting off the bus here,” said Terredanio. “It’s just scary to me to see stuff like this. It’s nerve-wracking,” he continued.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Investigator Loureiro of the Central Homicide Unit at 760-393-3524 or Investigator Buenting at 760-863-1679.

Stay with News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 for new information on this crime.