Cold Case Homicide Arrest 

July 28, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that on July 5, 2004, at 4:26 a.m., deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Indio Station (now Thermal Station) responded to a call of a male shot in the area of the 52400 block of Avenida Obregon, La Quinta. Deputies arrived and located Daniel Medina, a 17-year-old male from Indio, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medina was transported to a local hospital for treatment, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators from the Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. During the initial investigation, a person of interest was identified; however, at the time there was insufficient evidence to support an arrest, and the case eventually went cold.

As part of the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing efforts to review unsolved homicide cases, investigators recently reexamined this case. During the review, several leads and follow-up tasks were identified, and the case was reopened.

Through this follow-up investigation, additional evidence was obtained, and the suspect was identified as Eddie Zazueta, a 40-year-old resident of Bermuda Dunes. On July 24, 2026, with the assistance of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team, Zazueta was located and taken into custody without incident. Zazueta was later booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility for murder.

This investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information will be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Master Investigator Robertson or Deputy Lucifora at (951) 955-2777.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Jarred Bishop

File # LA041870008

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Office