Two teens arrested for attempted murder connected to Thermal crossfire
Riverside County sheriffs have made a string of arrests in connection with gunfire exchanges in Thermal on Oct. 1, according to a release late Friday.
Deputies from the Thermal station responded to a report of a shooting in the 63000 block of Landon Lane around 3 p.m. The victims described the suspect vehicle as an early 2000 model Chevrolet pickup.
While deputies were investigating the initial shooting, dispatch received a call for service regarding an exchange of gunfire between a blue Chevrolet pickup and a red, four-door sedan. The shooting occurred at the parking lot of a Thermal market, located on the 65000 block of Harrison Street.
When deputies responded to the second shooting, they located the red sedan near Avenue 66 and Van Buren Street. The occupants collided with a power pole and fled the scene on foot. Thermal station deputies searched the area and located Michael Vega, 18, of Thermal, Landon Torres, 18, of Thermal, and two Native-American male juveniles fleeing the area. All four were detained.
At 3:58 p.m. Oct. 1, dispatch received a call regarding two Hispanic male juveniles who had arrived at a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. During the investigation, deputies said they determined the teens at the hospital were the occupants of the blue Chevrolet pickup involved in the shootings.
Vega and Torres were arrested and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for attempted murder. A 16-year-old Native American male juvenile was booked at Indio Juvenile Hall for attempted murder.
On Oct. 4, 2022, members of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team arrested a 13-year-old male juvenile who sheriffs said was later determined to be in the blue pickup as well.
On Friday, members of the same community services district team and the Coachella Community Action Team served a weapons-related search warrant in the 76000 block of Pierce Street in Thermal and arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old Hispanic male juvenile for attempted murder. They were booked at Indio Juvenile Hall.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy J. Zazueta of the Thermal Station at 760-272-8367.
Janet Wilson is a reporter with The Desert Sun.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Teens arrested for attempted murder connected to Thermal crossfire
