Public Safety
Trial Proceedings Begin Next Week For Young Man Accused Of Killing Partygoer
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Jury selection will get underway next week for the trial of a young man accused of gunning down an 18-year-old partygoer during a revenge attack in Moreno Valley.
Darren Peter Zesk, 22, of Riverside is charged with first-degree murder, a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait and sentence- enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the 2020 slaying of Massai Cole of Inglewood.
Last week, Zesk’s case was assigned to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz, who ruled on pretrial motions regarding scheduling, witnesses and other matters. Schwartz ordered several panels of prospective jurors to the Riverside Hall of Justice on May 4 for screening as to their availability and qualifications.
Jury selection is expected to span at least a week, with opening statements expected in the third week of May.
Zesk is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
His cousin, 21-year-old Jared Lee Zesk of Riverside, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced last June to 11 years in state prison. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against him as part of the plea agreement.
Darren Zesk is accused of gunning down Cole on the night of Feb. 1, 2020.
According to evidence presented at the defendants’ preliminary hearing in July of that year, the cousins were partying with others at a house in the 16500 block of Century Street, near Krameria Avenue, when a fistfight erupted between the Zesks and other celebrants, prompting the hosts to kick the young men off of the property.
The Zesks left, but returned 90 minutes later, and Darren Zesk allegedly shot Cole at point-blank range, firing several bullets into the victim’s upper body. He died at the scene.
The Zesks fled to Riverside, where Darren Zesk was arrested without incident 30 minutes later on Huston Drive, according to sheriff’s officials. Jared Zesk was taken into custody three days later in Jurupa Valley.
The District Attorney’s Office had filed a hate crime allegation in the case — Darren Zesk is Caucasian, and the victim was Black. However, the defendant’s attorney last year successfully argued for the allegation to be stricken, over prosecutors’ objections, according to court documents.
Zesk has no documented prior felony convictions.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
By: Pristine Villarreal
April 24, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
Salton city resident Abraham Feinbloom is expected to take a plea deal in the murder case of 17 year old T’Neya Tovar. Under the plea deal obtained by the Imperial County Criminal Courthouse, Feinbloom will plead guilty to one count of torture and voluntary manslaughter. According to court records, he is also expected to assist law enforcement in finding the rest of the victim’s remains. Our @newsbyalondra will be inside the courtroom for his official sentencing Tuesday, September 29th with the very latest.
“Of you can’t find things out as a Board President… then what are they hiding?” Why is the elected board president being blocked from financial records? Drop your thoughts below👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #coachella #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
After AB 1145 (also known as Tristin’s Bill) was signed into law, NBC Palm Springs @maria_nvtv is giving more information about the law and what this means for the future of transportation in California #Highway74 #RoadSafety #CoachellaValley #Anza #RiversideCounty
Pregame update from Tim O’Brien ahead of tonight’s preseason matchup between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Ontario Reign. Tim has the latest from Acrisure Arena as the Firebirds get set for tonight’s game. UPDATE: Firebirds #CVFirebirds #CoachellaValleyFirebirds #OntarioReign #AHL #Hockey PalmSprings CoachellaValley
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) Xzavier Hernandez with the dot towards the back of the endzone, 2) Jesse Rodriguez with the 50 plus yard TD throw, 3) Trace Vargas with the diving TD, 4) Ryan Rumsey with the screen pass TD, making guys miss, or 5) Moyses Aguilar with the pick #fyp #fnl2026 #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball #fridaynightlights
Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
⚡️ TOP STORY: A man is recovering after he was struck by lightning. Firefighters battled a brush fire along Snow Creek Road, while another lightning strike in Chino Canyon sent a man to the hospital. If you hear thunder, stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble. #PalmSprings #Lightning #FireSafety
🚨 Chasing that year-round “summer glow”? A social media tanning trend involving the unapproved peptide melanotan-2 is raising serious safety concerns. Dermatologists say safer sunless tanning options are available. ☀️ #YourHealthToday #SkinHealth #Melanotan2 #TanningSafety
Palm Springs firefighters responded Thursday to a report of a person struck by lightning in the Chino Canyon area. The person was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Firefighters also responded to a palm tree fire in Chino Canyon that officials say was caused by an apparent lightning strike. NBC Palm Springs News Director David Reese is in the neighborhood tonight knocking on doors and trying to learn more about what happened. Did you see the lightning strike? Did you hear or see anything unusual? Do you know who was struck or have information that could help us understand what happened? We’d like to hear from you. Send us a DM here or contact NBC Palm Springs if you witnessed the incident or have information to share. #PalmSprings #ChinoCanyon #Lightning #PalmSpringsNews #NBCPalmSprings CoachellaValley BreakingNews
Fred Roggin’s response? Show us the receipts! #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings