Homicide investigation in Indio after man found dead in truck riddled with bullet holes
Indio Police are now calling the death of a man whose body was found early Friday morning a homicide.
Investigators say a driver crashed his bullet-riddled truck into a retaining wall. News Channel 3 has learned the body also had gunshot wounds.
News Channel 3's Samantha Lomibao spoke with Vincent De La Cruz, who lives right next door to where it happened. He said he hear a loud crash just before midnight. “My mom was like, 'Oh my God, look look outside!' And so we look at it, when we hear the car crashing.”
Police were called to Calhoun Street at 11:45 p.m. Thursday and said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
But when officers arrived on the scene, they said they found bullet holes in the pickup truck.
Watching the scene from his home, De La Cruz said he saw the victim trying to get out of the truck. “We look outside and my brother, said it seemed like he trying to get out to the passenger side, or you're trying to open like the passenger side," he explained, "Because the driver's side was like, blocked against the door. So he couldn't get out that way. So he try to like push himself out. But he couldn't because it was like locked, I guess. Like, he jammed himself in there.”
De La Cruz is still in shock, saying it could’ve been his home if the car went a few feet further. “Once we figured what actually happened like, you know, we're just like it was like crazy. That happened like in our backyard like literally.”
That discovery prompted detectives to determine whether the man died from the crash, or if there was another factor.
Police believe the man was driving on Calhoun south on Dr. Carreon but it remains unknown where the shooting actually took place. “We feel that the whatever incident or what became a bit did not start immediately at that location. So it might have been maybe down the street, or maybe one of the adjacent neighborhoods,” said Ben Guitron, Public Information Officer for Indio Police.
There was no immediate identification of the driver who died.
Investigators are not sure if it was a targeted attack, Indio PD public information officer Ben Guitron told News Channel 3.
As of Friday afternoon, there have been no arrests, Guitron confirmed.
Calhoun Street was temporarily closed between Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Quail Avenue for the investigation.
During morning drop-off, police asked parents of children who attended nearby schools to avoid the area and use Avenue 48 or Dr. Carreon to get around.
Police also want to hear from you if you know anything about what happened. If you any further information contact the Major Crimes Unit at (760) 391-4051. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP(7867).
Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for continuing updates as we learn more.
