3 arrested with 2 stolen guns after shots fired in Thermal

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested three men Monday afternoon on various weapons charges after they allegedly fired multiple shots around Thermal.

Suspects arrested:

Nester Jesus Suarez, 25 of Coachella, was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm
Ricardo Chavez, 23 years of Coachella was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm
Alejandro Mendoza, 32 years of Coachella was arrested for possession of a concealable firearm within a vehicle

The initial shots were reported near Avenue 58 and Buchanan Street just before 12:30 p.m. Deputies said they found multiple casings from a handgun, but the suspects were already gone.

Deputies said about an hour later, a second report of shots fired was made in the area, but this time they also had a vehicle description; a blue Toyota Tundra.

Authorities found the truck and pulled over the driver at Avenue 62 and Buchanan Street. Suarez, Chavez and Mendoza were all inside the truck, where deputies also found multiple firearms, according to the sheriff’s department.

All three suspects were booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio.

Nobody was injured from the gunfire.