Man Accused of Gunning Down Indio Resident in 2021 Arraigned

INDIO (CNS) - A convicted felon accused of gunning down a 27-year-old
Indio man more than four years ago pleaded not guilty Thursday to first-degree
murder and other charges.
  

Pedro Angel Gonzalez, 28, was arrested last month following a years-
long investigation by the Indio Police Department, with assistance from the
Riverside County Gang Impact Team, into the death of Joseph Espinoza Mendez.
  

Along with murder, Gonzalez is charged with shooting at an occupied
dwelling, firearm assault, being a felon in possession of a gun and sentence-
enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, with an additional
enhancement for perpetrating a crime while on bail.
  

The defendant was arraigned Thursday before Superior Court Judge
Elizabeth Tucker, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for March 16 at
the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
  

Gonzalez is being held in lieu of $1.1 million bail at the Byrd
Detention Center in Murrieta.
  

According to Indio police, on the afternoon of Dec. 14, 2021, the
defendant allegedly targeted Mendez as he stood in his garage in the 43000
block of Nairobi Drive, just north of Liberia Place.
  

Sgt. Abe Plata alleged Gonzalez fired multiple rounds, mortally
wounding the victim, then fled. A possible motive was not disclosed.
  

Witnesses called 911, and paramedics arrived minutes later,
discovering Gonzalez unconscious but clinging to life. He was taken to nearby
JFK Memorial Hospital, where he died hours later.
  

The homicide investigation initially netted few clues, but further
efforts led to undisclosed evidence that prompted detectives in early February
to present a case for charges against Gonzalez to the District Attorney's
Office. The defendant was arrested without incident on Feb. 11 in Coachella.
  

Court records indicated Gonzalez at least one prior-strike felony
conviction, but it wasn't listed.
  

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