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Police
seek witnesses to shooting
By Kenny
Klein
The Desert Sun
February 12th, 2002
DESERT HOT SPRINGS -- Detectives on Monday say they
believe a lone gunman shot and killed a Desert Hot Springs man
Saturday in the walkway of his apartment.
But
investigators have few other clues in the fatal shooting and
said more witnesses need to come forward to solve the latest
in a rash of homicides to hit the Coachella Valley.
"We are interviewing potential witnesses today that
could provide crucial information," said Desert Hot Springs
police Lt. Jim Steimer.
Antonio Avalos Carranza, 32,
was shot to death about 10 p.m. Saturday near his apartment in
the 66-200 block of Flora Avenue, police said.
Steimer
said they suspect the gunman drove to the Flora Avenue
apartment building, then walked up to Carranza and fired the
fatal rounds, one of which struck him in the head.
The
gunman then fled the area before officers arrived, Steimer
said.
Steimer said officers are still talking to
possible witnesses and seeking a suspect in the
case.
Carranza’s killing is the fourth in the Coachella
Valley this year and the third since Feb. 2.
Jason
Gonzales, 32, of Indio, was shot and killed Feb. 2 at a home
in the 82-500 block of Avenue 44 in Indio.
Days later
on Feb. 6, police found the body of Timothy Tumolillo, 31, in
the bathtub of his Palm Springs apartment. Police are
investigating the death as a homicide.
On Jan. 16,
Arthur L. Sanchez, 24, of Coachella, was shot at a home in the
84-500 block of Westerfield Way in Coachella.
In
Saturday’s homicide, Carranza’s wife Martha Beltran told The
Desert Sun on Sunday the shooting happened as they were having
a party for family and friends.
Carranza’s death was
the city’s first reported homicide of 2002.
However,
two Desert Hot Springs men were killed hours apart on Dec. 20.
Russell Wilson, 65, of Desert Hot Springs, was shot to
death at his apartment in the 11-700 block of Mesquite Avenue.
A few hours later, Henry Vellore Lozano, 20, of Desert
Hot Springs, was shot to death while driving home on Palm
Drive north of San Juan Road.
Police arrested a
Banning man in connection with Wilson’s killing and his case
is making its way through the court system.
Anyone
with information is asked to call Desert Hot Springs Police at
329-2904.
Kenny Klein covers police, fire and
crime. He can be reached at 778-4640 or by e-mail at http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/Kenny.Klein@thedesertsun.com
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