April 21, 2023 - Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report on Friday, April 21, 2023, Riverside Sheriff’s Thermal Station patrol units responded to a shooting incident in the 85000 block of Cairo Street in Coachella. The investigation revealed subjects in a Ford SUV and a silver sedan fired numerous semiautomatic handgun rounds at each other. No injuries were reported, and both vehicles fled the scene.
The Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit (SIU) responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. SIU located the Ford SUV in the 50000 block of Frederick Street in Coachella. A traffic stop was attempted, and the vehicle fled to the 84000 block of Vera Cruz in Coachella. The occupants fled from the vehicle, leaving it in drive. The vehicle collided with a residence. The occupants of the residence sustained no injuries.
The front passenger, Ruben Molina, 19, of Indio, dropped a semiautomatic firearm as he exited the vehicle and was taken into custody in the 84000 block of Vera Cruz in Coachella. The vehicle was checked for injured subjects, and an additional semiautomatic firearm was located.
A perimeter was set utilizing SIU and Thermal Station patrol units. The rear passenger, a 15-year-old juvenile resident of Indio, was taken into custody in the 49000 block of Corte Percebe in Coachella.
The driver, Raymond Alejandro Munoz-Jimenez, an 18-year-old resident of Indio, and rear passenger Esteban Lara-Cardenas, 22, of Indio was taken into custody in the 84000 block of Corte Loreto, in the city of Coachella. Raymond Alejandro Munoz-Jimenez was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and possession of a loaded firearm.
Ruben Molina was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, possession of a loaded firearm, and committing a felony while on bail. Esteban Lara-Cardenas was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and possession of a loaded firearm.
The 15-year-old juvenile was booked at the Juvenile Hall in the city of Indio for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and possession of a loaded firearm.
The Thermal Station Investigations Special Investigations Unit asks anyone with additional information to contact Deputy Piscatella at the Thermal Sheriff's Station by calling (760) 863-8107. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Valley Crimestoppers at (760) 341-7867.
Source: Riverside County Sheriff
