Man arrested in deadly Indio shooting
Indio police have arrested the suspect accused of gunning down a young man Wednesday night at the Encanto Apartments, located in the area of 46-725 Clinton Street.
Police were called to the scene of the shooting just after 8 p.m. when multiple people reported gunfire. Officers found the victim, 23-year-old Gilbert Lopez, deceased in a common area inside the apartment complex. Police said he appeared to have been shot at least once.
Less than a day after Lopez was killed, police said they were able to identify the shooter through several leads from the community. Information led them to the Miracle Springs Resort and Spa in Desert Hot Springs.
Detectives said they served a search warrant at 10625 Palm Drive at 9 p.m. Thursday. They found evidence leading them to arrest 31-year-old Salvador ‘Downer’ Yanez of Indio.
After searching Yanez’ room, detectives said they discovered forensic evidence linking Yanez to the homicide and evidence leading them to believe he was preparing to flee the area.
Yanez was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio for homicide.
The Indio Police Department believes Yanez was the only person involved in the homicide but the investigation is ongoing to determine if an outstanding suspect may have helped him kill Lopez.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Indio Police Department at 760-391-4057 or Coachella Valley CrimeStoppers at 760-341-STOP.
KESQ & CBS Local 2 spoke to the victim’s family Thursday afternoon.
“Whoever the person that did this, I pray to God that this person goes to hell, their family suffers, and I’m so angry right now,” said Junior Sanchez, Lopez’s older brother.
“He’s a good person, he had a good heart, he loved his family, he joked around a lot. He had a son that died a couple years ago and he was heartbroken with that and I believe he is at peace with God and dad and his son,” said Sanchez.
According to the family, Lopez was involved with gangs until about a year ago when he tried to get out.
“”He was out of it, he was dedicated to his step kid and his girlfriend and dedicated to his family, he was out of it,” said Sanchez.
“I hate this area it’s very dangerous it’s really bad between Indio and Coachella this is the worst neighborhood you could possible be in,” said Sanchez.
Lopez was actively involved in the local hip hop music scene. Local musicians held a benefit concert for his family at Plan B Live Entertainment in Thousand Plams on Saturday, March 14, at 10 p.m.
Yanez is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Stay with News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 on air and online for updates.
