“Large fight” at Zelda’s Nightclub in Palm Springs early Sunday morning

Monday morning at the “Sun Center” in south Palm Springs, things appeared relatively quiet, with shoppers coming and going.

But, a day prior, the parking lot was the scene of what police call “a large fight” outside Zelda’s Nightclub.

“When you see all this, and its shocking, you don’t feel safe coming out to this part of Palm Springs,” said beautician Lucy Colin, who works at a business in the shopping center.

The man arrested, accused of carrying a loaded handgun, is 25-year-old Cathedral City resident Jair Santiago.

He was taken to the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

There is no word on what sparked the fight, and we are told its “no longer under investigation”.

News Channel 3 asked if the fight was gang-related.

“We don’t know. We don’t have any information if it was gang-related or not,” said Palm Springs Police Sergeant Mike Casavan.

During the early morning hours of January, 20th, two people were shot in the parking lot. A 21-year-old man died, and a 14-year-old boy was left in critical condition.

Read: Mother, uncle of man killed in Palm Springs shooting reveal new details

Monday, we spoke with people working at nearby businesses.

The man behind the counter at the vape shop next to Zelda’s would not talk on camera.

He said he wasn’t concerned about recent crime at the center, and said “crime is happening everywhere”.

“I don’t feel safe at times, because its very unpredictable, It’s random. It’s very violent,” said Colin.

We spoke to Sergeant Mike Casavan about calls for service at Zelda’s this year.

For 2019, in addition to the homicide in the parking lot, there are increased calls from the year prior for “medical aid”, “robbery alarm”, and “request for officer”.

We asked Casavan if there was a growing crime problem at Zelda’s.

“It’s hard to say. There is isolated incidents, not only at Zelda’s, but other locations as well,” said Casavan.

We spoke with a representative from the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control, who said Zelda’s is in “good standing” when it comes to their liquor license.

However, he said the agency is reviewing the recent criminal activity associated with the business.

Our phone call to Zelda’s seeking comment was not returned.