Suspect In Coachella Killing Found Inside Riverside County Jail: RSO

COACHELLA, CA — A suspect has been identified in a fatal shooting that occurred last year in Coachella, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced Monday.

Adrian Martinez, 34, of Coachella was already in custody on an unrelated case and is believed to be the suspect in last year's desert shooting that left a 58-year-old man dead, the agency said.

On the early morning of Sept. 2, 2024, deputies assigned to the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were called to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 85400 block of Valley Road in Coachella.

When the deputies arrived at the scene, they found Juan Sanchez of Coachella dead. He had gunshot injuries, according to the sheriff's department.

At the time, no arrests were made, but after a yearlong investigation, the sheriff's department believes it has found Sanchez's one and only killer.

"Based on the investigation, Martinez is believed to have acted alone," according to the sheriff's department.

The agency did not disclose the relationship, if any, between the victim and Martinez.

Jail records show Martinez was already in custody when sheriff's investigators caught up with him: In February, he was arrested by the Coachella Police Department on suspicion of making terrorist threats, cruelty to a dependent adult, battery, and other crimes.

A murder charge is now expected to be filed against him.

It's not clear what led investigators to Martinez.

He is currently being held at Southwest Detention Center in French Valley.