Public Safety
Trial to Begin For Felon Accused in 2017 Cathedral City Bar Shooting
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of a reputed gang member accused in a 2017 shooting at a Cathedral City bar that left a man severely injured.
Thomas Zaragoza, 39, of Desert Hot Springs is accused of opening fire on Mike Avila following an argument that erupted at what is now the location of Henry’s Sports Bar & Grill at Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive on July 26, 2017.
Zaragoza’s trial will be held at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
Zaragoza was arrested along with three other men: Andrew Monroy, 26, and Carlos Rodriguez, 29, who are both Cathedral City residents; and Ricky Ceballos, 28, of Desert Hot Springs. The three men have pleaded guilty in the case.
Prosecutors say the four men got into an argument with the victim at the bar before it escalated into a fight. According to the victim’s family, he was at the bar celebrating his wife’s birthday that night.
Zaragoza is charged with one count each of attempted murder, assault with a gun, assault on a person causing great bodily injury and criminal street gang activity. He also faces several gun- and gang-related sentence-enhancing allegations.
Witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing in August 2017 that an argument, sparked for unknown reasons, led to the suspects engaging in a fight with Avila just before 11 p.m. One of the men allegedly swung twice at the victim, but failed to connect with either blow.
Zaragoza later allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired at least five times on Avila, striking him in the abdomen and hand.
The gunfire also struck another man in the foot, and that man reportedly said that Avila could be heard telling the suspects, “Hey, I don’t even know who you are. I just want to leave.”
Witnesses stated that Avila grabbed a pool cue to defend himself, then was shot while running from the defendants.
The four men were arrested two days after the shooting at a Banning gas station.
According to his family, Avila underwent multiple surgeries and was hospitalized for several months in the intensive care unit following the shooting.
Monroy, Rodriguez and Ceballos agreed to a deal with prosecutors in exchange for several charges being dropped in January 2020. The three men pleaded guilty to assault causing great bodily and admitted to a gang-related sentence-enhancing allegations and were each sentenced to eight years in state prison.
The men were originally charged with attempted murder, assault with a gun and gang activity charges as well, which were dismissed in exchange for their plea.
It is unclear if Zaragoza’s former co-defendants were asked to testify against him in exchange for their admissions.
Zaragoza, who has felony convictions including spousal abuse and petty theft with priors, is being held on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
By: NBC Palm Springs
April 5, 2021
Latest Instagram Posts
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What are you going to be for Halloween? 🎃
Labor Day traffic is picking up in Palm Springs. If you’re heading out, our Maria Noble Valdez has what you can expect on the roads here. Be sure to stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs and nbcpalmsprings.com for more Labor Day coverage #LaborDay #LaborDayTraffic #PalmSprings #TrafficUpdate #i10
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Cael Woody with the dot under pressure, 2) Tatum Webster with the pass breakup, 3) Ivan Garza with the rushing TD, 4) Sean Meza with the toe tap, or 5) Jesus. Valenzuela with the strong hands #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
Me On A Plate is back! We head over to @tacquila_ps to talk to chef David Arreguin about his love of spice, being the seventh of nine children, and his drive to always follow his passion. Check it out now on our website nbcpalmsprings.com
Nearly a year after wildfires tore through Mountain Center, the scars are still visible along the Palms to Pines Highway. Now, fire crews are working to repair those burn areas and reduce the risk of flooding, erosion and mudslides when heavy rain arrives. The work includes fire-line suppression repairs, water bars and other measures designed to slow rainwater and keep burned soil from washing away. CAL FIRE Riverside County Battalion Chief Ryan Lubin says the steep terrain, dry brush and limited access continue to create challenges for mountain communities. With El Niño conditions expected to bring periods of heavy rain, officials say preparing now could help protect homes and communities from the aftermath of wildfire. The message from firefighters: preparation can save lives. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #MountainCenter #Highway74 #PalmsToPines #CALFIRE #Wildfire WildfireRecovery FireSafety CoachellaValley SanJacintoMountains
Gas prices in Riverside County are climbing toward $6 a gallon — and that’s more than $1 higher than this time last year. A 15-gallon fill-up now costs about $86, leaving many drivers wondering how much longer they can absorb the rising cost. On this week’s Roggin Report, Fred Roggin and the panel debate how expensive gas is changing the way people travel, work and live — and why prices are so much higher here. Watch the full conversation at NBCPalmSprings.com. #RogginReport #FredRoggin #GasPrices #RiversideCounty #CoachellaValley
As the Lindsay Clancy trial begins to close, discussions regarding postpartum mental health and postpartum care have began to draw attention to the level of care needed after childbirth. Maria Noble Valdez looked at this discussion locally with a mental health expert and mom here in Coachella Valley. #lindsayclancytrial #pospartum #mentalhealth #760 #nationalnews
EVEN PARKING HAS A VIP SECTION? A mall in Bakersfield is charging shoppers up to $10 a day for preferred parking spots closer to the entrance. So we had to ask: Would you pay for a better parking spot? And could paid parking eventually come to Valley malls? Fred Roggin and the panel weigh in on this week’s Roggin Report. Would you pay $10 for a prime parking spot? #RogginReport #FredRoggin #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Parking
📞 Call 760.466.0800 or visit DAPHealth.org to schedule your appointment today! Flu viruses change every year, and getting vaccinated is the best way to strengthen your immune system, lower the risk of severe illness or hospitalization, and protect your loved ones. Sponsored by: DAP Health
A wedding day they’ll never forget. 💍🌊 A couple in the Philippines refused to let monsoon flooding wash away their special day — exchanging vows while standing waist-deep in floodwaters. Talk about making a splash on your wedding day! #WeddingDay #Philippines #Flooding #Monsoon #Wedding #Love #NBCPalmSprings