NV double murder suspect hospitalized after shooting man, rolling gun battle, wild shootout with officials

MORONGO BASIN — Authorities announced today the apprehension of a double murder suspect they say first fled from and then fired on deputies, early this morning, Wednesday Oct. 17. Today’s incident, which began with the shooting of a third person on the 7400 block of Elk Trail, near SR-62 in Yucca Valley, ended about 10 miles away in a wild shootout with officials near San Jacinto St. and Mojave Dr. in Morongo Valley.

Video footage of the early morning gunfire – filmed by area resident Julio Arana and later shared with NBC News, has since emerged – revealing further details of the violent incident and arrest. During the short 46-second video, which began after shots were already being fired and ended before the shooting was over, more than 50 rounds discharged from multiple weapons can be heard being fired.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:

UPDATED: 4 juveniles, 1 adult, arrested after wild WVHS melee that caused city-wide response

BREAKING: Officials at scene of Hemet stabbing, search for 2 men ongoing

DA seeks witnesses, grieving family seeks change, after deadly crash that killed pregnant SJ mother, unborn daughter

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials and other sources later reported Roger Tindell, 36, of Morongo Valley, was struck by at least five of the fired rounds and was taken to Desert Hospital in unknown condition. The suspect is expected to recover, according to SBSO.

Two victims, described only as a 43-year-old man who Tindell shot in Yucca Valley and a 24-year-old woman who was later hospitalized as a precaution, were involved in the incidents but officials have not yet fully explained their involvement or what led to the initial shooting.

The incident began after deputies responded to a call of a shooting at the Elk Trail location at 2:14 a.m., SBSO later explained. The 911 caller told emergency dispatchers that the suspect, later identified as Tindell, was believed to still be armed and had left the residence with a female in a silver BMW.

Deputies quickly located Tindell and the unidentified woman in the BMW and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Tindell refused to yield to officers’ lights and sirens and a pursuit through Yucca Valley and Morongo ensued.

“During the pursuit, Tindell opened fire at pursuing deputies and deputies returned fire,” SBSO later explained. The pursuit ended several minutes later when Tindell plowed into a Sheriff’s patrol vehicle and fire hydrant in Morongo Valley in the area of San Jacinto St. and Mojave Dr.

“Again, Tindell opened fire on the deputies and deputies returned fire, striking Tindell,” SBSO explained.

Although the female victim did not appear injured during the shooting she was taken to the hospital as a precaution. She was treated and later released, according to officials.

Based on the circumstances, SBSO’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

“Detectives determined that Roger Tindell was at the Elk Trail residence and shot the male victim for reasons still unknown,” SBSO explained. “Tindell left the location, taking the female victim with him, fleeing from deputies and then engaging those deputies in an exchange of gunfire.”

Detectives later learned that an FBI Task Force was actively searching for Tindell for his alleged connection with a double homicide in Henderson, Nevada. No information about the fatal shooting was immediately available.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Homicide Detail, Detective Nick Clark or Sergeant Ryan Smith at (909) 387-3589 or remain anonymous and contact WeTip at (800)78-CRIME or www.wetip.com. Callers can refer to incident file number 231802027/601800145 and callers can remain anonymous.

NBC Palm Springs video

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.