Man pleads not guilty to alleged role in Desert Hot Springs house shooting

A young man who allegedly instigated a Desert Hot Springs shootout stemming from a dispute between neighbors, resulting in injuries to himself and three others, pleaded not guilty today to assault with semi-automatic firearm charges.

Jude Evaro, 19, is accused of triggering the July 12 shooting at 66211 Fourth St. that left Evaro, his brother and two other men hospitalized.

Watch: 3 men and teen shot following alleged DHS burglary

Suspecting a neighbor had broken into his home, Evaro allegedly reported a burglary to police that day, but responding officers did not find any evidence to link the neighbor to any crime.

An altercation later sparked between Evaro and the neighbors over the burglary claim, with Desert Hot Springs police concluding that Evaro and his brother allegedly “acted as the aggressors in the situation and due to their actions, including the bringing of firearms to the scene, escalated the
situation which resulted in the shooting,” an arrest warrant declaration states.

Evaro is accused of pointing a loaded, stolen gun at a man “just after a physical altercation,” according to the arrest warrant declaration, which alleges that he obtained the weapon from his brother. Evaro and the man wrestled for the weapon, causing it to discharge, and the gunshot prompted Evaro’s brother and another man at the scene to begin exchanging gunfire, leaving all four men wounded, the declaration alleges.

It’s unclear why Evaro’s brother was not also charged.

Evaro was taken into custody last Thursday night near Palm Drive and Eighth Street and is being held on $500,000 bail. He’s due back in court on Dec. 4 for a felony settlement conference.