CCPD investigates after 21-year-old shot to death

The Cathedral City Police Department is investigating after a 21-year-old man was shot and killed early Monday morning.

Officers were called to Baristo Road and Date Palm Drive just before 1 a.m. and found the victim sitting in his vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body, according to Lt. Glen Haas with the Cathedral City Police Department.

The victim, Hector Perez, was still conscious when officers found him, but he ended up dying from his injuries at Desert Regional Medical Center while being treated, Lt. Haas said in the release.

Authorities said the initial investigation and evidence recovered from the scene suggests the victim was involved in a prearranged sale of marijuana at a nearby location. An altercation of some type took place during that meeting and lead to the shooting.

Perez was able to leave the scene after being shot, and that’s when he called police.

Officers with CCPD are pursing leads as they investigate the homicide, and no suspect information is being released at this time. If you have any information about the shooting, call officers at 760-770-0313 or email info@cathedralcity.gov.

This is the second homicide in Cathedral City this year and the third in the Coachella Valley.