News

Elementary school closed as Coachella manhunt continues

Published May 27, 2017 3:15 AM

Update: As the Coachella manhunt continues, KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 learned Valley Del Sol Elementary School is closed Friday. The school is located at 51433 Education Way.

Coachella Manhunt:

Authorities have identified a suspected gang member accused of shooting a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy in Coachella on Thursday night during an attempted traffic stop. A news release early Friday morning said Gildardo Davila of Coachella, 27, refused to stop in the area of Harrison Street and First Street and threw a handgun from the vehicle.

KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 is digging into the past crimes of the suspect, and we found this isn’t the first time he’s ran from the law.

Read: Past crime revealed for wanted gang member accused of shooting Riverside County sheriff’s deputy in Coachella

The deputy then located the vehicle near Calle Mendoza and Las Flores Avenue as the driver jumped out and ran into a residential neighborhood.

The Riverside County Sheriffs Department said the officer chased after Davila and that’s when the suspect shot and injured the officer using a handgun. Authorities said Friday morning the deputy was shot multiple times but was conscious and in good spirits at the hospital Thursday night.

The deputy called for help, and was airlifted to a local area hospital for treatment.

His name has not been released, but he suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s SWAT Team searched the area along with Investigators from the Coachella Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Central Homicide Unit.

The search for Davila continued Friday morning. Davila is a suspected gang member and is believed to be armed and dangerous.

The shooting happened on Calle Mendoza & Las Flores a little before 8 pm.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Armando Munoz told KESQ & CBS Local 2, the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area, the suspect failed to yield. Deputies are still investigating how exactly the shooting happened.

The deputy that was shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital, according to Munoz.

Tyler St will be closed from Avenue 50 & 52 for an undetermined amount of time, stay out of the area as the search for the suspect continues.

People who live in the area are asked to stay in their homes with the doors locked and report anything suspicious.

Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez released a statement on the shooting:

“We don’t know the circumstances involving the shooting as yet,” said Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez. “The suspect is still at large. But we are committing all available resources to ensure that the person or persons responsible for this shooting are captured as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Sheriff’s at 760-836-3215

We will have updates as soon as possible.