Palm Springs quadruple-homicide trial delayed until March 4 as DA seeks death penalty

The trial of a 20-year-old man accused of gunning down four people has been delayed as it becomes a capital punishment case.

On the night of February 3, 2019, Jacob Montgomery, 19, Juan Duarte Raya, 18, and Yuliana Garcia, 17, were found dead inside a Toyota Corolla that crashed into a parked Jeep near the intersection of Sunny Dunes and El Placer roads. 

30 minutes later, Carlos Campos Rivera, 25, was also found dead on Canon Drive.

Jose Larin-Garcia was identified as the suspect behind all four deaths. He was arrested at a Greyhound bus station in Indio on February 4.

According to PSPD Officer Colantuono, Larin-Garcia told the officer when he responded to the scene, "How can I be okay? I just witnessed a murder," when questioned. 

A PSPD detective detailed what was reportedly found in Larin-Garcia's room during the investigation; long-sleeve shirt with blood on it, ammunition magazines, a pistol case for a Glock, and gun-cleaning supplies. 

Larin-Garcia's attorney John Patrick Dolan told News Channel 3 that his client was friends with Montgomery. According to Detective Steve Grissom, Larin-Garcia was also friends with Carlos Campos Rivera.

Dolan also said Larin-Garcia was in the car with Montgomery, Garcia, and Duarte Raya on the night of their killings.

Palm Springs Police Detective Edman Escallada confirmed that Larin-Garcia called his mother after his arrest, claiming he was innocent of the crimes and needed a lawyer "to seek his options.'' The mother then asked why he was running from law enforcement if he was innocent, to which Larin-Garcia responded he was intoxicated, scared and an idiot, Escallada said.

The case has now been delayed until March 4 because the court wants to assign a new judge to oversee the trial now that the District Attorney is now making this a capital punishment case.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.