Indio Homicide Suspect Arrested in Coachella Four Days After Fatal Shooting

A suspect is now in custody following a fatal shooting in Indio last week.

The Riverside County Gang Impact Team arrested 41-year-old Gabriel Salazar on Saturday morning in the area of Avenue 51 and Filmore Street in Coachella. The shooting occurred on December 16 in the 47000 block of Bluejay Street. According to investigators, 23-year-old Angel Ernesto Yee Mendoza had been involved in an earlier shooting that day on nearby Dove Street, where no one was injured. Mendoza then drove to a residence on Bluejay Street, where he and Salazar got into a verbal confrontation that escalated into an exchange of gunfire.

Mendoza was struck and returned to his vehicle, where he became unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital and later died from his injuries. Police recovered an unregistered handgun from Mendoza's vehicle and found multiple expended bullet casings at both shooting scenes. Salazar had fled before officers arrived.

Salazar was not armed at the time of his arrest and was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on homicide and weapons charges. His arraignment is scheduled for today at the Larson Justice Center.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Indio Police Department Detective Ortega at (760) 391-4057. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.