Accused I-10 shooter picked up by Mexican authorities
The suspected shooter in the death of a 19-year-old Coachella woman on Sunday has been arrested by authorities. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department picked up 22-year-old Damian De Los Santos in Mexicali, after he was detained by Mexican authorities on Thursday.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 were at the sheriff’s station when De Los Santos was taken into custody at about 4 p.m.
“Anytime, regardless of the case, in this case it’s a homicide, we are glad that we have one of the suspects located and arrested,” said Deputy Armando Munoz with RCSD.
5/11 – Court Documents Released
Court documents are revealing a potential motive in the shooting death of 19-year old Maria Mondoza of Coachella on Sunday on Interstate 10.
Read De Los Santos arrest affidavit
Police believe Mendoza was killed by 22-year old Damian De Los Santos in a car to car shooting on Interstate 10 somewhere between Bob Hope Drive and Monterey Avenue.
Police also believe De Los Santos was Mendoza’s ex-boyfriend.
Sunday afternoon, the driver of the car Mendoza was in called 911 and reported that he was shot in the leg and Mendoza was shot in the chest.
Police say Mendoza was able to identify De Los Santos as the shooter before she died at the hospital.
Police say 19-year old Andrew Castro was driving the car De Los Santos was shooting from. He was arrested on Monday and his arraignment on Wednesday was postponed.
Investigators were still searching for De Los Santos until he was apprehended in Mexicali on Thursday by Mexican authorities. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department then transported him back to the Riverside County Jail in Indio.
