Arrest made in homicide investigation of 19-year-old killed in a shooting at an Indio apartment building
UPDATE SUNDAY: An arrest was made and confirmed by Indio police in this homicide investigation. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday on Sunset Drive in Coachella. There is no word of a motive as of Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
INDIO, CA (KESQ) - Detectives in Indio are investigating a deadly scene at an apartment building after a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
The family tells News Channel 3 the victim is 19 year old Jaime Garcia.
"We were able to gather a little after midnight; three men burst through the door while my nephew was playing PlayStation, says the aunt of the victim, Lupita Garza. She continued saying several people were in the house when Garcia was shot. "I believe they shot him once in the stomach, says Garza. "He tried running out, perhaps, and then they shot him once again. It was a really bad situation inside there. Kids are traumatized right now." Even though the three children were not biologically Garcia's children, he was in a relationship with the mother. They were having a normal evening right before Garcia was taken from them. As told by his aunt, they witnessed this tragedy. Garcia leaves behind a family that is "heartbroken," says Garza.
Garza pleads to the community to call Valley Crimestoppers at 760-341-STOP (7867) if they have any information regarding her nephew's murder.
"It's just really about taking care of making sure that our law, you know, that we benefit from the use of the law and the deputies and everybody help us out, please.," says Garza. "We're not a family of crime; we're not a family that gets in trouble. So this is really something new in our family, and we just beg you to please come forward, call it in anonymously, or something."
Police tell News Channel 3 that officers located the male victim when they arrived at Monte Azul Apartment Homes on Dr. Carreon Boulevard just before 1 a.m. Friday.
News Channel 3 has a crew on the scene and will provide updates on this page and at noon on News Channel 3.
