The Shops At Palm Desert Shooting: Third Teen Arrested

PALM DESERT, CA — A third 19-year-old was arrested in connection with a shooting earlier this year at The Shops at Palm Desert in which over 40 rounds were fired, the sheriff's department announced Wednesday.

Daniel Joseph Santacroce of Desert Hot Springs was taken into custody Tuesday in the 66000 block of San Remo in Desert Hot Springs after a search warrant was served. A short-barreled rifle, AR-15 parts, and a high-capacity magazine were found during the search, according to the sheriff's department.

Santacroce is one of three teens accused in the Feb. 2 non-injury shooting.

Allen Curcio Adams Jr. and Alexander Brice Alvarado, both 19, were booked March 22 into Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in connection with the shooting. Each was charged with four counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at a vehicle/building. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges and are due in court next month for a trial readiness conference, according to court records.

Adams and Alvarado are being held without bail and have prior felony convictions, Riverside County court records show.

Santacroce is being held at Indio's John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder. Jail records show his bail was set at $1 million. He has no documented criminal history in Riverside County, according to court records.

The three arrests followed an investigation into the shooting reported around 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Palm Desert shopping center located in the 72-800 block of Highway 111.

The investigation revealed there was an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles in the parking lot, according to a report from Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt.

The incident "was a car-to-car, gang-related shooting, with over 40 rounds fired," according to the sergeant.

No one was injured during the incident.

Two Desert Hot Springs residents were detained during the initial investigation but no arrests were announced at the time. It's unclear whether Santacroce was one of them, although Riverside County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Deirdre Vickers told City News Service at the time, "The two detained the night of the incident were later determined to be possible victims. As a result, they were released and no charges were filed against them."

Several search warrants were written and served, including in the 11100 block of Hyattsville Street in Adelanto, where Adams and Alvarado were arrested, according to the sheriff's department.