Unlicensed bail agent charged with murder after deadly Palm Springs shooting

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., — Authorities say an unlicensed bond agent with a criminal history – who was prohibited from possessing a firearm – was arrested after a deadly Palm Springs encounter involving a man that bail agents were trying to apprehend early Friday morning, April 23.

The fatal shooting happened at the Indian Canyon Gardens Apartments in the 100 block of East Via Escuela in Palm Springs, between Highway 111 and Indian Canyon Drive, according to officials.

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At around 1:47 a.m. officers from the Palm Springs Police Department received a call for service to assist bail agents attempting to arrest a suspected fugitive, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Richard Carroll later said of the fatal incident.

Palm Springs Police Department has since said its officers were initially dispatched to the scene after receiving a panic alarm at the residence. That initial notification was followed first by a phone call from the homeowner reporting that someone was breaking into his residence, followed by a second call from a bail agent who said he was at the residence in question and was attempting to arrest a subject at the location, PSPD officials explained.

“The bail agent further reported that the subject was brandishing a knife and he needed emergency assistance,” said officials.

When officers arrived they met with bail agents “who were inside the location attempting to arrest the fugitive,” Carroll described.

“Officers contacted the subject who was brandishing a knife and who was refusing to comply with officers,” PSPD officials went on to explain. “A PSPD officer used a taser on the subject, but the subject still refused to comply.”

At that point the bail agent opened fire on the knife-wielding man.

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“During the incident, a bail agent discharged his firearm, striking the fugitive,” the Sergeant continued; with Palm Springs PD officials adding, “PSPD immediately requested medical aid and attempted life-saving efforts until paramedics could arrive on scene.”

“Despite life-saving measures performed by the officers and medical personnel, the suspect ultimately died at the scene,” Carrol explained.

Although at the scene when the fatal shooting occurred, no Palm Springs police officers were directly involved in the shooting or discharged their firearms, Carroll and PSPD officials have both since reported.

The man shot and killed during the incident has been identified as 33-year-old, David Spann.

“Although Spann was wanted by a bail agency, there was no warrant for his arrest by law enforcement,” explained Carroll.

Due to Palm Springs police officers being present during the shooting, investigator’s from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Force Investigations Detail, which is comprised of sheriff’s and district attorney investigators, were called in to lead the shooting investigation.

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During their subsequent investigation officials learned the bail agent who fired the fatal shots, 36-year-old, Fabian Herrera, “was not properly licensed and, due to his criminal history, was prohibited from possessing firearms,” said Carroll.

 “As a result of this investigation, Fabian Herrera was arrested and booked for murder,” Carroll continued.

Online jail records indicate Herrera remains in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Indio Larson Justice Center on April 28.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Riverside Sheriff Investigator Bishop at (951) 955-2777 or District Attorney Investigator Munoz at (951) 955-5506. Callers can refer to incident file number MB211130001 and can remain anonymous.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.

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