Author: KESQ

Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Nearly three years after a deadly shooting in Indio, Indio Police announce the arrests of two men connected to the 2022 homicide.

On December 23, 2022, around 2:00 a.m., Indio Police detectives responded to a homicide investigation at 45955 Grace Street, near Jackson Street and Highway 111. They found Steven Matthew Sanchez, 44, who had died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

IPD reports that on September 5, they arrested Isaac Anthony Martinez, 21, who they charged with murder and accessory to a crime.

Isaac Anthony Martinez

Days later, on September 10, the department, along with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team, located Efren David Bracamonte, 21, in Thousand Palms. Bracamonte was charged with murder and also booked into John Benoit Detention Center. Bracamonte pled not guilty at his arraignment on Friday, and is being held on $1 million bail. He is due to be back in court later this month.

Efren David Bracamonte

News Channel 3 was at the scene of of Bracamonte’s arrest on Wednesday.

IPD has filed charges against both individuals with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

The Indio Police Department is urging anyone with additional information regarding this case to contact Detectives Belman and Ortega at (760) 391-4057.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates on this story.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gavin Nguyen

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Parents and students are concerned after a number of school threats have been made to PSUSD schools in recent days.

Several emails and phone calls were made into the KESQ Newsroom after posts on social media began circulating online on Wednesday about violence that would occur on Thursday at Desert Springs Middle School in Desert Hot Springs.

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department released a statement Thursday night and deemed the threat was not credible. The department said it will maintain an increased police presence on Friday out of an abundance of caution.

Palm Springs Unified School District reassured parents with several district emails and messages after the threat was deemed to be fake by investigators. Since the threat was first discovered, the district said it sent five messages to parents, acknowledging anxiety & fear over recent violence.

The most recent district update came at 4:35 p.m. on Friday:

Hello PSUSD Families!As we get ready for our weekend, it has become a happier Friday. Thanks to the diligence of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, working in collaboration with our District security team and administrators, the author of recent threatening social media posts has been identified as a juvenile. In an abundance of caution, police and security presence around DHS schools will continue in the upcoming days.

We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and District security team for their dedication and commitment to keeping our scholars and staff safe and working together to bring this incident to resolution. We also want you to know that PSUSD has a zero tolerance for behavior that threatens the safety of our scholars, and the person(s) responsible for this incident will face the most severe disciplinary and legal consequences allowed,

I want to thank you all again for your continued support, understanding and confidence in us. Please hug your children and give them reassurance that their safety comes first and all of us at PSUSD are committed to providing a safe learning environment each and every day.

I wish you all a relaxing and peaceful weekend!

Sincerely,Marcus Funchess, Ed.D.Superintendent of Schools

Thursday’s threat comes after another phone threat was called into Palm Springs High School last week, which was also deemed to not be a credible threat.

Dr. Funchess said if parents or their students discover an online threat like the one on Thursday, they should remain calm. He encouraged parents to first speak with their children and help them stay calm, and if possible, get more information on where the threat came from.

Parents should also reach out to law enforcement, the school, or the district to inform them of the threat. They can call those places directly, or use the district’s reporting system called “Sprigeo.”

“Do you have a message for parents or students who might be a little bit scared to be going to school right now?” News Channel 3 asked the superintendent.

“Number one, I understand as a father first and a superintendent second, I understand those fears and anxieties, but I give you my 100% word that it is our job, our number one priority, and our goal to keep your scholar safe in our school district,” Dr. Funchess replied. “And that’s what we are working at and that’s what we will continue to do, working with our law enforcement professionals and working with you as our parents by communicating, receiving information from you and doing our job well.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Timothy Foster

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) — Summer in the desert is always a challenge for local businesses, but this year, some restaurant owners say the slowdown hit harder than usual.

From July through September, restaurants typically see a dip in sales as triple-digit heat keeps many customers away. Brian Murphy, owner of Jimmy John’s in La Quinta and Palm Desert, said this season was slower than last year. Other restaurant owners he spoke with reported that business was either flat or down. On top of that, rent, insurance, food prices, and minimum wage increases added to the financial strain.

To get through the slower months, many local restaurants adjusted staffing, cut costs, and carefully managed food orders. Murphy explained that business owners rely on forecasting, using data from previous years to make decisions about labor and inventory.

The challenges extend beyond the Coachella Valley. The National Restaurant Association warns that new tariffs on food and beverages from Canada and Mexico could cost the industry more than $12 billion nationwide. With restaurants already operating on slim margins of just 3.5 percent, owners remain uncertain about the future.

Marco Honnold, general manager of Burgers & Beer in La Quinta, said his restaurant benefits from having a reliable distributor, but he noted that smaller establishments without the same resources may struggle even more. He added that rising costs from tariffs or inflation put added pressure on everyone in the industry.

Customers like Justin Thompson also recognize the importance of community support. He emphasized that shopping and dining locally helps strengthen the regional economy, especially during the slowest part of the year.

As temperatures finally begin to drop, restaurants hope customer traffic and revenue will rise again. Until then, they say it is local support that makes survival possible.

Click here to follow the original article.

Julia Castro

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Extra security is in place at Desert Hot Springs schools after threatening social media posts targeted Desert Springs Middle School, according to police.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Desert Hot Springs Police Department stated that the investigation into the posts is ongoing, but so far, there is no credible threat to any campus.

Police and district security officers will maintain an increased presence at schools “out of an abundance of caution,” the statement said.

Officials thanked the Palm Springs Unified School District for its support and the community for its understanding as the investigation continues.

Click here to follow the original article.

CNN Newsource

NEW YORK, NY (CNN) – Palm Springs resident Barbara Keating was killed in the September 11 terror attacks when the plane she was on board crashed into the World Trade Center.

Twenty-four years later, her family recently gained a new sense of closure when her remains were identified by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

The OCME has been working to identify 9/11 victims using DNA reference samples from their families. So far, the OCME has identified the remains of 1,653 individuals killed in the attack.

Keating’s son Paul says his family is eternally grateful for the work being done to give families like his answers.

Paul Keating spoke with CNN Correspondent Leigh Waldman about the identification and the sense of closure it gave to Barbara’s family.

News Channel 3’s Jeff Stahl highlighted Keating’s story in 2021, when St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palm Springs held its annual remembrance ceremony.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A hiker was taken to the hospital after suffering a “minor medical emergency” while on the Bump and Grind Trail in Palm Desert Thursday morning.

The incident was first reported at around 11 a.m.

A Rescue9 helicopter hoisted the patient out of the trail and onto a landing zone. The patient was then transported to the hospital via a ground ambulance.

No other details were available as of Thursday afternoon.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

Click here to follow the original article.

Spencer Blum

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The 2nd annual “Healthy Desert, Healthy You” Environmental Health Summit presented by the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation got underway on Thursday with a full slate of panels.

The event, being held at the Westin Rancho Mirage, brings together experts from across the valley to talk about various community health topics ranging from renewable energy and a sustainable future, to air quality, to infrastructure.

News Channel 3’s First Alert Meteorologist Spencer Blum was there and spoke with vendors, panelists, and organizers about some of the issues, including some related to his work every day.

The Environmental Health Summit continues on Friday.

For more information, visit healthydeserthealthyyou.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is addressing what it describes as “a significant amount of misinformation” surrounding the handling of a prior criminal case against Jake Haro.

DA officials released a statement on Thursday clarifying the Office’s position and actions in the matter.

According to the DA’s Office, an internal review confirmed that prosecutors believed the original charges against Haro could have been more severe due to the nature and extent of the victim’s injuries. They say that had the case gone to a preliminary hearing, they likely would have pursued amendments to increase the charges.

However, Haro entered a guilty plea before that stage, and his plea agreement was accepted by the court.

Prosecutors say that they strongly objected to the proposed sentence – Haro received probation, with 180 days in a work release program and a suspended prison sentence.

The DA’s Office adds its objection was made “in open court and on the record,” citing the seriousness and permanent nature of the injuries inflicted on Haro’s then-10-week-old daughter.

“The Court chose to deviate from the People’s insistence that Mr. Haro deserved prison time for his actions,” the statement reads. “It was acutely aware of the heinous and permanent nature of this young victim’s injuries.”

While acknowledging that the court had the discretion to grant Haro probation, the DA’s Office says it believes that “granting Mr. Haro probation under these circumstances, on these facts, was an inappropriate use of that discretion. And that is the basis of our objection.”

Officials conclude in their statement, “Our office’s primary focus remains providing justice for Baby Emmanuel. It is essential that we do not lose sight of who is truly responsible for the loss of life at issue in this case and focus our time and energy on ensuring justice for Baby Emmanuel.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

BEAUMONT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office released body-worn camera footage of a deputy-involved shooting in Beaumont this past July.

The shooting happened on the evening of July 29 on the side of the road near Redlands Boulevard and San Timoteo Canyon Road.

According to the agency, a deputy contacted a motorcyclist.

“When the deputy asked if the male had any weapons, the male became uncooperative and ran toward a nearby residence,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a video recapping the incident.

Bianco said during a foot pursuit, the suspect produced a firearm, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect, identified as Justin Perry James, 53, of Beaumont, was hospitalized in critical condition. Bianco said he remains hospitalized.

Investigations into the shooting remain active and ongoing. The incident will be reviewed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

Update 9/15/25

Four suspects have been charged in connection with the assault.

Isiah Manning, 24, and Camaron Dearman, 21, were arrested on Sept. 11. The next day, police also arrested Dikie Reagins, 21, and Cordell Wash, 18.

Manning and Dearman are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Reagins and Wash are set to appear in court on Tuesday.

Original Report 9/11/25

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Two men were arrested in connection with an assault at a grocery store earlier this month in Palm Springs.

The assault happened on Sept. 1 at around 11 p.m. in the 400 block of S Sunrise Road.

“Officers contacted the victim, who had been brutally attacked by several suspects inside the store,” reads a post by the Palm Springs Police Department. “According to the investigation, the victim was approached by the suspects, who initiated a physical assault. The victim fell to the ground, where the suspects continued to kick and stomp on him. The victim was dragged several feet through the store during the assault. Despite attempting to protect himself, the victim was further assaulted as he lay on the ground, sustaining serious injuries. The suspects eventually fled the scene, leaving the victim motionless.”

Investigators were able to identify the suspects, a 24-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, who were arrested on Thursday. Both suspects face multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and gang membership. They are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 15.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 323-8157 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 347-7867.

Click here to follow the original article.