Trio accused of firing at crowded Thermal home plead not guilty to charges

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Three young men accused of opening fire on a crowded Thermal home, unleashing numerous rounds in a drive-by attack that continued even after sheriff's deputies arrived to investigate, pleaded not guilty today to 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 earlier this month following a Riverside County Sheriff's Office 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 investigators initially booked them on suspicion of shooting at them.

They were arraigned Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Feb. 10 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Each defendant is being held on $5 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

The victims at the Thermal property -- nine men and five women -- were identified only by their first names or initials in the criminal complaint -- A.G.C., D.S., ``Jackie,'' J.A.C., J.C., J.D.C., J.J.O., J.O.C., ``Jocelyn,'' L.O., M.F., M.M., P.J. and S.A.   

Sheriff's Sgt. Jarred Bishop alleged that shortly before 10 p.m. on Dec. 5, the defendants drove to a house in the 88000 block of Avenue 70, near Fillmore Street, and cut loose with a volley of gunshots at the property, 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.''  

They also didn't shoot back, but instead gave chase as the vehicle sped away.

"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 parked) 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 on Dec. 6 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.