Desert Hot Springs shooting leaves one man seriously injured, another in custody

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif., — Authorities today are continuing to investigate a shooting at a Desert Hot Springs RV park that left one man hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds and another man reportedly behind bars yesterday afternoon, Monday, Nov. 8.

The shooting, which left the victim with serious injuries, happened at the Desert Springs Spa RV Park at 17325 Johnson Road, between Dillon and Aurora roads, according to officials.

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Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the scene around 2:40 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire in the area, followed by reports of a shooting victim down with multiple injuries at the RV park.

The shooting left an adult male suffering from at least three gunshot wounds, including injuries to both legs and his lower abdomen, according to neighbors and witnesses, including one man who ran to the aid of the shooting victim after hearing at least four gunshots in the park.

Sheriff’s deputies and investigators remained at the scene of an RV park shooting near Desert Edge that resulted in one man being shot multiple times and another man in custody. KESQ News3 image

Speaking with KRCR News 3 yesterday, Mark Sanders, who lives at the RV park and was outside raking leaves when he heard gunfire erupt within the park, said he first heard gunshots before seeing a white SUV fleeing through the park and speeding away from the area.

After hearing a man crying out for help, Sanders said he ran to see if he could offer aid to his neighbor.

“I heard, ‘Help! Help!’, so I ran down there,” Sanders told KESQ; adding, “He was laying on the ground shot three times.”

Sanders said the man was conscious and despite being traumatically injured, he was able to provide basic information such as his name and age while the good Samaritan did what he could to help the victim remain calm and alert until paramedics arrived.

The victim’s injuries were extensive, according to Sanders; who said the man sustained gunshot wounds to both legs, as well as a serious and potentially critical gunshot injury to his abdomen. The victim was rushed to an area hospital where he was continuing to recover last night. His condition has not been updated since.

Sheriff’s deputies were seen inside the RV park over the next several hours while they searched for and collected evidence related to the shooting and interviewed potential witnesses.

A short time later, deputies converged on a second scene about 25 miles away in Coachella, at Dillon Road and Tyler Street, where they surrounded a white SUV and detained a man for further investigation.

Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Albert Martinez confirmed to RCNS this morning that the man detained yesterday was ultimately arrested in connection with the shooting and has since been booked into a Riverside County jail.

Sheriff’s officials have not yet released any details or information regarding the shooting or their subsequent investigation and arrest, and Martinez this morning said the suspect’s name and other details would be released soon.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, 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.