Three 18-year-olds charged with firing at crowded Thermal home

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Three young men accused of opening fire on a crowded Thermal home, firing numerous rounds in a drive-by attack that continued even after sheriff's deputies arrived to investigate, were charged today with multiple counts of attempted murder and other offenses.

Eric Orozco Diaz, Guillermo Alexander Martinez and Gustavo Isbojet Barrera Pena, all 18 and from the eastern Coachella Valley, were arrested a few days ago following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.   

The defendants are charged with just over two dozen offenses, including premeditated attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, reckless gunfire, discharging a gun from a moving vehicle and sentence-enhancing allegations of using a firearm -- a "ghost gun'' -- in the commission of a felony.

There were no specific charges related to the trio's alleged targeting of patrol deputies, even though sheriff's investigators initially booked them on suspicion of shooting at them.

The victims at the Thermal property -- nine men and five women -- were identified only by their first names or initials in the criminal complaint.

Sheriff's Sgt. Jarred Bishop alleged that shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, the defendants drove to a house in the 88000 block of Avenue 70, near Fillmore Street, and unleashed a volley of gunfire at the property, but not hitting anyone inside.

The victims called 911, and several patrol units reached the location a short time later, Bishop said.

"While on scene, a vehicle drove onto the street, and an occupant fired multiple rounds in the direction of deputies, striking one of the patrol vehicles,'' the sergeant said. "No deputies were injured."   

Deputies didn't shoot back, but instead gave chase as the vehicle sped away, authorities said.  

"Deputies pursued the suspect vehicle but lost sight of it,'' Bishop said. "A short time later, they located an abandoned vehicle matching the suspect vehicle, (which was left) in the 63000 block of Landon Lane.''  

That's roughly 10 miles northwest of where the alleged shooting occurred.   

Bishop said a search of the location after midnight Saturday resulted in contact with Pena, who tried to run away but was quickly apprehended without further incident.

Two days later, Diaz and Martinez were also taken into custody after they were summoned and questioned at the sheriff's station on Airport Boulevard in Thermal.

A possible motive for the alleged attack wasn't disclosed.   

The defendants have no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County adult court.