Palm Springs quadruple homicide suspect charged with four counts of murder
A suspect has been charged with four counts of murder in connection with a quadruple homicide in Palm Springs.
19-year-old Jose Larin-Garcia of Cathedral City was arrested by PSPD officers Monday at 7:48 p.m. at the Indio Greyhound Station.
“He was arrested the night of February 4th at the Greyhound station after we developed probable cause to believe he was in possession of a high capacity magazine and that’s what he was arrested for and sent to the Indio County Jail for,” said Sergeant Michael Casavan of the Palm Springs Police Department.
He pleaded not guilty to all four murder charges in court Thursday and is being held without bail, according to John Hall, public information officer for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. He also pleaded not guilty to a high capacity magazine charge.
The coroner’s office has positivley identified the four victims as, 25-year-old Carlos Campos, 19-year-old Jacob Montgomery, 18-year-old Juan Duarte-Raya and 17-year-old Yuliana Garcia.
Raya’s family sent News Channel 3’s Lauren Coronado this quote;
“…We are happy that Juan is getting justice, but at the same time, we still think that for such a gruesome tragedy, he [the suspect] probably was not working alone, and that’s what scares us.”
Casavan says the department does not have information on whether or not the suspect worked alone and is asking the public to come forward with any information that may help with the investigation.
Some local businesses are helping fundraise for victim’s funeral expenses.
Elena and Anthony Riccio own La Bella Cucina restaurant in Palm Desert and are eaccepting donations for Montgomery’s service. The Riccio’s say Montgomery and his family are close friends of theirs.
“You have to open a platform and even if it wasn’t someone that was as close to us, if you can help someone, you have to. During a tragic time like this, the last thing somebody has is extra money for burial services,” said Elana Riccio.
Joe’s Tire Shop in Cathedral City will also be donating their space for a car wash fundraiser Saturday (3:30 pm) and Sunday (all day).
At 11:40 p.m Sunday, an accident was reported near the intersection of Sunny Dunes Road and El Placer Road in Palm Springs. The driver and two passengers died at the scene. In a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Palm Springs Police Department Chief Reyes said that the three victims found at the crash scene had sustained gunshot wounds, but clarified that it was unclear at that time if the gunshots caused the deaths of the victims.
Two possible homicide victims identified by family, fundraising pages set up for three victims
Mother speaks out about son’s death in Palm Springs homicide investigation, 4 people killed
Shortly after the accident was reported, PSPD received a call of a body in the road at 12:15 a.m. Officers arrived on scene and found the body of a man who had suffered from an ‘apparent’ gunshot wound. The victim, a 25-year-old Palm Springs man, died before officers arrived.
Family members have identified the three teen victims found at the scene of a fatal collision in Palm Springs Sunday evening.
Wednesday night, Dana Beauchemin spoke with News Channel 3’s Lauren Coronado, confirming that her son, 19-year-old Jacob Montgomery of Cathedral City, was one of the victims in the car. Another victim’s family member confirmed with News Channel 3 that 17-year-old Yuliana Garcia was another one of the victims found dead at the collision scene.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up for 19-year-old Juan Duarte Raya, who, according to the campaign’s description, was “kill[ed] with 3 others on 2/3 at night”. The page has been shared out extensively on social media identifying Raya as the third victim.
The Riverside County Coroner’s Office is working to offically release the identifications of the four victims.
PSPD Detectives continue to urge anyone living in the area with street view surveillance footage from Sunday at 11:20 to Monday at 1:00 a.m to review the video.
Anyone with information relating to the investigation should contact PSPD at 76-232-8136. To issue an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.
Fundraising pages have been set up to support the families of the victims.
In honor of Yuliana Garcia “On Sunday night our precious Yulie passed . She was only 17-years-old just a teen full of life who didn’t deserve this! She left behind her family and friends who love her dearly,” reads the page description. “Today I’m asking for you’re support in this tragic time to help me raise some money to help out her family. Her family and I would truly appreciate you’re support. Thank You Rest Easy babygirl 12/15/01 – 02/03/19” A Young Life Gone Too Soon (Juan Duarte Raya) “I want to raise money to help my sister out she has gone through so much. This is her second child that their life’s have cut short. Juan was also my Godson, he was always smiling and with struggles and all he graduated high school,” reads the page description. “He didn’t continue college because he wanted to get a job and he did he was happy because he no longer had to depend on his parents, but unfortunately he has kill with 3 others on 2/3 at night . Please help to make this process a little easier for our family.” Funeral services for Jacob Montgomery Jacob Reino Montgomery age 19 was one of the 3 victims of the tragic incident that occurred in Palm Springs on Monday morning early February 4, 2019,” reads the page description. “Leaving behind a loving mother Dana Beauchemn and a heart broken Grandmother Edie Carranza and uncle William & a devastated Family All proceeds will go to help pay for funeral expenses. Our family would like to Thank you for your kind generosity.”
