Three 18-year-olds charged with shooting at deputies in Thermal

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Three 18-year-old men accused of shooting at deputies over the weekend in Thermal were officially charged on Wednesday.

Gustavo Barrera Pena, Guillermo Alexander Martinez and Eric Diaz Orozco, were charged with 25 felony counts, including attempted murder, related to two separate shootings Friday night.

The three suspects are set to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Deputies responded to a report of a shooting in an inhabited dwelling shortly before 10 p.m. Friday in the 88000 block of Avenue 70, according to sheriff's Sgt. Jarred Bishop.

While deputies were on scene, a vehicle drove down the street and allegedly fired multiple rounds toward them, striking one of the patrol vehicles, Bishop said.

None of the deputies returned fire and no injuries were reported.

Deputies pursued the vehicle but lost sight of it, Bishop said.   

Later that day, deputies found a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the 63000 block of Landon Lane in Thermal. During a perimeter check, they encountered a suspect who fled on foot but was later detained, Bishop said.

Authorities identified him as Gustavo Barrera Pena. He was booked Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and discharging a firearm into an inhabited dwelling, and was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.  

Martinez and Orozco were identified as additional suspects and were arrested without incident on Sunday, Bishop said.   

"No further suspects are believed to be involved or outstanding,'' Bishop said.

Anyone with additional information about the case was asked to call 951-955-2777.