3 RivCo Teens Charged In Drive-By Shooting That Targeted Deputies: Sheriff

THERMAL, CA — Three eastern Coachella Valley teens accused of unleashing a barrage of gunfire on a crowded Thermal home, and then firing again when sheriff’s deputies arrived, have been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and other felony offenses, authorities said.

Eric Orozco Diaz, Guillermo Alexander Martinez and Gustavo Isbojet Barrera Peña, all 18, were arrested following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the late-night shooting last Friday in the 88000 block of Avenue 70 near Fillmore Street, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Jail records show bail at $1 million each.

Prosecutors filed more than two dozen charges against the trio, including premeditated attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, reckless gunfire, and shooting from a moving vehicle. Each defendant also faces sentence-enhancing allegations for using a firearm — specifically a “ghost gun."

Although the teens were initially booked on suspicion of shooting at deputies, prosecutors did not file charges specifically related to targeting law enforcement.

READ MORE: 3 Coachella Valley Teens Suspected Of Firing On Deputies

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop said the three suspects drove to the Thermal home just before 10 p.m. Friday and opened fire, though none of the 14 people inside, nine men and five women, were hit. The victims were listed in court documents only by first names or initials, including A.G.C., D.S., “Jackie,” J.A.C., J.C., J.D.C., J.J.O., J.O.C., “Jocelyn,” L.O., M.F., M.M., P.J., and S.A.

Deputies responded minutes later after multiple 911 calls.

“While on scene, a vehicle drove onto the street, and an occupant fired multiple rounds in the direction of deputies, striking one of the patrol vehicles,” Bishop said, adding that no deputies were injured.

Deputies pursued the vehicle but lost sight of it. A short time later, an abandoned car matching the suspect vehicle was found in the 63000 block of Landon Lane, roughly 10 miles away.

After midnight Saturday, deputies encountered Barrera Peña near the location. He attempted to run but was quickly detained, Bishop said. Two days later, Diaz and Martinez were also arrested after being summoned and questioned at the Thermal sheriff’s station on Airport Boulevard.

A possible motive for the attack has not been disclosed. The three men have no previous felony convictions in Riverside County adult court records.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Master Investigator R. Ramirez or Sr. District Attorney Investigator E. Crosson at 951-955-2777.

City News Service and Patch editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.