Bail agent arrested for murder after deadly shooting
Update 4/24:
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, a 36-year-old bail agent has been arrested and booked for murder after allegedly shooting a suspected fugitive while trying to take him into custody at his home. It was learned that the bail agent was not properly licensed, and due to his criminal history, was prohibited from possessing firearms.
On Saturday morning the Riverside County Sheriff released an update in the investigation of a fatal shooting during an effort to detain a person they said was wanted by a bail agency. Friday night, Palm Springs Police also released further details.
When officers arrived at a Palm Springs condominium complex, they contacted the subject who was brandishing a knife and who was refusing to comply with officers. A PSPD officer then used a taser on the subject, but the subject still refused to comply. A bail agent then fired his weapon, which resulted in the death of a 33-year-old male at the scene. PSPD immediately requested medical aid and attempted lifesaving efforts until paramedics could arrive on scene.
A woman was seen in handcuffs outside a unit at the complex. A representative from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office was also on scene.
Palms Springs Police has requested our assistance with an incident in their area. We are at the 100 block of E Via Escuela, Palm Springs. Preliminary info: Bail Agents were involved in a shooting while apprehending a fugitive. Suspect is deceased. pic.twitter.com/FeaaAHQKS4
— Riverside County Sheriff's Dept (@RSO) April 23, 2021
Officers had been called to the Indian Canyon Gardens complex along the 2200 block of North Palm Canyon Drive at East Via Escuela shortly after 2:00 a.m. Friday, according to Palm Springs Police.
"I saw the door busted open. There was a bunch of wood everywhere," said neighbor, Nancy Fischer.
Palm Springs Police said the Riverside County Sheriffs Department was conducting an investigation there and referred all questions to that agency, but the Sheriffs Department denied to KESQ News Channel 3 it was leading the case. Later on, that changed after getting word that Palm Springs Police would head the effort to get the latest information out.
A forensics truck was parked at the complex along with nearly two dozen other marked and unmarked law enforcement vehicles.
