Author: KESQ

Kendall Flynn

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Two children are dead and 17 other people are injured, including 14 children and three adults, after a shooting at a Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Valley is home to numerous Catholic schools and churches, like the Saint Cecilia Catholic Community and the Diocese of San Bernardino, who said they are praying for families at this time.

“It’s just this feeling of impotence that we all free frustrated about not being able to do something about it,” Bishop Alberto Rojas with the Diocese said. “But I’ve been praying and feeling sorry and praying for the victims and for the people to find a solution to these issues.” 

The Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter was armed with a riles, shotgun and pistol. They approached the side of the church and shot through the windows as children sat in the pews, during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School.

The Diocese of San Bernardino tells News Channel 3 there is a state mandate for active shooter training in schools. The Diocese oversees the Catholic schools and parishes in the Valley, and they say teachers, children and parents received training every two years.

Even with the training officials said it’s still a difficult situation as they never know when they will occur. For small churches like Saint Cecilia they rely on faith.

“We have very little resources. We can’t afford a security guard. And we more of less trust common sense and trust God,” Pastor David Justin Lynch said. “I’m hoping everyone here is safe and that all the pastors at the various churches will take seriously their responsibility to keep their congregation safe.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from local Catholic leaders about their message to the community at this time and how they are leaning into their faith.

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Luis Avila

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Parents are demanding answers and action after a violent fight involving multiple students broke out at Desert Mirage High School on Tuesday. The incident, caught on camera, has left families on edge and raised new concerns about student safety on campus.

Pedro, a parent who requested anonymity, says this isn’t an isolated issue.

“Frustrating. You wonder what’s going on at the school to check on your kids. If they’re involved. One never knows.”

Pedro, Thermal Resident

Pedro’s child attends Desert Mirage, and he says the circulating video immediately made him fear the worst.

He believes the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) needs to do more to prevent these kinds of incidents, pointing to the need for increased campus security. However, he also emphasized the role of parents in keeping children out of harm’s way.

“I think there should be more security both inside and outside the campus… Us parents need to be more conscious and not let our children get involved where they shouldn’t. Be more attentive.”

Pedro, Thermal Resident

Pedro claims he has voiced his concerns to school officials but feels like they’ve gone unheard.

KESQ reached out to the school district for comment. While CVUSD did not respond to an interview request, the district provided a statement:

“The District is aware of the physical altercation that occurred in the Desert Mirage High School parking lot after school. Law enforcement responded and is supporting us in maintaining a safe learning environment. There were no reported injuries and families were notified to reassure them that all students were safe.”

Still, parents like Pedro say the district’s response isn’t enough.

It remains unclear what sparked the fight or how many students were directly involved.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Athena Jreij

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) — As investigators piece together what happened to Emmanuel Haro, News Channel 3 has seen a trend of misinformation spreading online.

Most recently, during a search operation in Moreno Valley, social media users spread information that the baby’s body had been found. While a search was conducted in the hills of Moreno Valley, no body was found and that information was never relayed by the department in charge, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s.

Studies into social media misinformation surrounding ‘true crime,’ have found it can have a negative impact on public opinion, juror selection, wrongful accusations and evidence gathering.

It’s something Sheriff Chad Bianco addressed head on in a press conference Wednesday.

“Misinformation, lies and purposeful misdirection is going to do nothing but harm this investigation,” he said.

Officials have warned false narratives that spread online can divert resources away from the investigation.

Lt. Gustavo Araiza with Palm Springs Police said, “A lot of times it could distract from the actual investigation that’s going on. The reality is there’s this influx of calls that are coming into our dispatch center. So now we’re taking time away from critical incidents because the phones are ringing off the hook. Generally, we will put up a hotline or a number to call if we’re asking for the public’s help,” Araiza said.

While officials say the public keeping an eye on a case can help with support, some bad actors online will spread unconfirmed information for clicks. That misinformation can have long term affects on cases when they head to trial.

“The jury pool is kind of limited for that specific area because people are well aware that might have heard some of the theories that were put out there, even though some of those theories might not be fact or weren’t actual evidence.”

News Channel 3 also spoke with Matt Johnson, a Crime and Justice Correspondent at Court TV, who said the buzz around this case has been unique.

“There are just so many people online searching for answers and following the case. There are people outside of the DA’s office looking for answers. They’re taking their time out of their busy days. They’re not going to work on certain days searching,” Johnson said.

Now, authorities are asking the public for patience as they maintain the integrity of the investigation.

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Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A 7-month-old toddler presumed to have been killed by his parents in Cabazon was a victim of long-term abuse that led to his death, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said Wednesday.

“We believe he was abused over time,” Hestrin said during a news briefing Wednesday in downtown Riverside. “We believe Emmanuel was severely abused … and because of the abuse, he succumbed to those injuries. That’s what we believe.”

Hestrin was joined by Sheriffs Chad Bianco and Shannon Dicus to provide an update on the case of missing 7- month-old toddler Emmanuel Haro..

Hestrin said murder charges filed Tuesday against Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, and Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, of Cabazon, in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Emmanuel Haro reflect “our belief that baby Emmanuel was abused, a victim of child abuse, over time and that eventually because of that abuse, he succumbed to those injuries. That’s what we believe.”

The baby’s remains still have not been found, although Hestrin said investigators “have a pretty strong indication of where the remains of baby Emmanuel are,” although the search was continuing.

Investigators continue to search for Emmanuel’s remains.

A large search operation was underway Sunday along Highway 60 near Gilman Springs Road. Jake Haro was seen with investigators at the scene in a red jumpsuit. Officials tell News Channel 3 Emmanuel’s remains were not located during the search.

Jake and Rebecca Haro, Emmanuel’s parents, were officially charged with murder and making a false police report on Tuesday. Their arraignment was pushed back to Sept. 4, they remain in custody on $1 million bail.

Jake and Rebecca Haro were both arrested Friday morning at their home in Cabazon.

Emmanuel was originally reported missing on Thursday evening when Rebecca Haro said the baby was kidnapped after she was assaulted outside a store in Yucaipa while she was changing the baby’s diaper. She told police the attack rendered her unconscious, and when she awoke, the baby was gone.

An investigation began immediately and took a turn when authorities said Rebecca’s initial statement had inconsistencies. She then declined to continue with the police interview.

Last Tuesday, investigators seized Jake Haro’s vehicle for evidence processing.

Authorities said Friday they determined the kidnapping did not occur.

“Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur. It is believed Emmanuel is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing,” reads a statement by the SBCSD.

Hestrin said the baby’s death was preventable, blaming a failure in the criminal justice system that resulted in Jake Haro being sentenced to probation in a previous child abuse case involving his ex-wife and another infant.

Jake Haro was charged with counts including child abuse and child cruelty, and prosecutors were pushing for prison time in 2023, Hestrin said. But Haro wound up pleading straight up to the court to all charges,and the judge sentenced him only to probation and community service.

“My prosecutor in the courtroom objected to that and said on the record we object, we think it’s a prison case and you should send him to prison,” Hestrin said. “And the judge decided, as is the judge’s right to do, in that case, he decided that Mr. Haro deserved an extra break and gave him probation and basically 180 days of work release which ends up being like community service.”  

Hestrin added, “I will say that it was an outrageous error in judgment by this judge. I don’t have any problem saying that. I’m not attacking the judge personally. That decision was absolutely outrageous. Mr. Haro should have been in prison at the time that this crime happened. If that judge had done his job as he should have done, Emmanuel would be alive today. And that’s a shame and it’s an outrage.”

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Cynthia White

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Twentynine Palms man accused of violently attacking his grandmother’s dog and resisting arrest pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home of Joseph McGee, 28, on Araby Drive on August 16th following reports of violent behavior.

They say that McGee’s behavior included threatening to harm his grandmother’s Pomeranian, then grabbing the dog and twisting its torso in an attempt to break the dog’s back. During the assault, the grandmother was able to pull the dog away from McGee.

Deputies arrived moments later and reported that upon contacting McGee, he became combative and directed his aggression towards one of the deputies, leading them to use physical force to arrest him.

McGee was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail on charges of Felony Animal Cruelty and Felony Resisting an Executive Officer.

After entering his not guilty plea on Tuesday, McGee is being held on $110,000 bail at the West Valley jail in Rancho Cucamonga.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin encourages anyone with information related to these cases to contact them at (760) 366-4175. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-888-78-CRIME.

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Shay Lawson

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ)  – The City of La Quinta honored Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez on Tuesday on the anniversary of his death.

Lopez was one of the 13 U.S. Service members killed in the 2021 Kabul Airport attack in Afghanistan.

The tribute is being held at the Civic Center Campus indoors in the multipurpose room.

Dozens of community members remembered Lopez’s sacrifice and the lives lost that day.

The remembrance began at 7.

Guests held up light sabers — a nod to Lopez’s love for Star Wars and his legacy.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage at 10 and 11 p.m.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Despite conflicting details about potential advantages and disadvantages, the Board of Supervisors today enacted a policy prohibiting future expanded use of Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal by a Native American tribe and other entities seeking so-called “through-the-fence” agreements.  

“The FAA is not very clear on this subject,” board Chairman Manuel Perez said ahead of the 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Jose Medina abstaining. “This is not exactly black and white. But it’s up to the county. understand the larger picture. We have to support the staff recommendation.”

The Transportation & Land Management Agency sought a blanket prohibition on through-the-fence concessions, and the board’s vote affirmed the new policy for Thermal — as well as the other four county owned airports.   

The action came following roughly two hours of TLMA presentations, comments by interested parties and the board members’ own observations during a hearing at the County Administrative Center Tuesday.

Through-the-fence compacts enable private parties to establish easements or direct pathways for airplanes and vehicles from land immediately adjacent to aerodromes onto their tarmacs and runways.

The Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians acquired 600 acres fronting Thermal airport for the express purpose of developing the land as an off-site adjunct to the airport property, creating hangars and other facilities, with full access to the runway environment via through-the-fence, or TTF, concessions.  

Tribal officials said there had been informal negotiations on the subject until April, when the county abruptly fell silent.   

County Airports Director Angela Jamison told the board the county stood to lose millions in potential future grants from the Federal Aviation Administration if TTF agreements were established, submitting a five-page letter to the board from the agency which contained guidelines on TTFs, but no clear declarations about how to determine their viability.   

A tribal spokesman told the board development of land around the airport, with a TTF, was focused on “what’s best for the region,” not solely the tribe.

“High quality jobs, workforce training and economic growth, which benefits every supervisorial district,” he said.   

Former FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichols, now in private practice, was hired by the tribe to review all aspects of a prospective TTF and asserted there was no regulatory bar.

“There are over 300 FAA-approved TTFs in effect nationwide today,” Nichols said. “Thirteen of those are in California.”  

He said most of them were established between municipalities and commercial aircraft operators, including FedEx and UPS. One of the tribe’s goals had been to create space for air cargo intake and processing facilities.   

The nonprofit Burger Foundation donated 20 acres for the county’s current sheriff’s aviation hub at Thermal airport, and foundation Vice President Mike Rover said access for the law enforcement operation came with a TTF.

“Thermal airport is now like a rich person’s club for people to fly in (to the Coachella Valley) on their private jets,” Rover said. “Through-the- fence access would democratize this airport. The balancing of interests should be the goal.”  

Standing in opposition to the TTFs were the current fixed base operators, or FBOs, that provide fuel, tide-down space and hangar usage — Atlantic Aviation and Desert Jet.

“A TTF competes with businesses already invested in the airport,” Atlantic Aviation spokesman Eric Newman said. “It would weaken the airport’s revenue base. Aviation infrastructure developed by our business ultimately reverts to public (county) ownership.”

Desert Jet owner Jim McCool said his company is working on a $20 million investment at the airport, reflecting an on-site “substantial economic interest.”  

“Nobody will invest in airports that permit unfair competition using through-the-fence,” he said.

La Quinta City Councilman Steve Sanchez advocated “protecting our FBOs and federal funding” by denying TTFs.   

The city’s mayor, Linda Evans, took the opposite view, telling the board “all stakeholders” should be engaged before enactment of a county policy.

When controversy arises, pause and have further discussion,” she said. “Consider all compromises and look at what enhances economic growth and opportunity.”  

The matter proved befuddling to Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who agreed “further conversation would be warranted,” though in the end she decided to vote with the majority.   

The board’s resolution establishing a bar to TTFs could be reconsidered at any time.

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Spencer Blum

We are tracking another round of monsoonal thunderstorms around the Coachella Valley today. A Flood Advisory is in place currently for the mountains and canyons just to the west of the Coachella Valley (as of 3:10 PM). Overall, it is more mild today compared to yesterday. It is still warm and very humid across the valley. We will remain under a First Alert Weather Alert through 7 PM this evening.

Our weather is all because of a ridge of high pressure impacting the western US. This is funneling moisture into the southwest, leading to the monsoonal activity over the last few days. Tomorrow will begin to see some slight drying and clearing. However, Thursday will see more clouds thanks to moisture from the tropics.

Overall, temperatures will be fairly moderate in the coming days. We can expect warmer weather this weekend with near average temperatures heading into next week.

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Luis Avila

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Cleanup efforts are underway across Twentynine Palms after a powerful storm swept through the area on Monday, unleashing a torrent of mud and debris that overwhelmed roads and flooded homes.

On Highway 62 — one of the hardest-hit areas — Caltrans crews spent Tuesday clearing away rocks and sediment that had poured onto the roadways. But as the mess is cleared, residents say they’re tired of the cycle of destruction and cleanup, and are calling for permanent infrastructure improvements.

“If the city, county and state knows where the flooding is, build a bridge. Put some pipes in… All this equipment, all the Caltrans stuff is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax payer money that is not being applied properly.”

John Dillon, Twentynine Palms Resident

One of the worst-hit properties was the Starlight Inn, owned by Veno Nathraj. Situated at the bottom of a slope off Highway 62, Nathraj’s hotels are vulnerable to runoff during heavy storms.

“When you get the sediment flowing, it blocks the water from flowing freely and enters into my hotel. The Starlight Inn is flooded from the lobby to the last room. I just cleaned it up and it’s flooded all over again.”

Veno Nathraj, Hotel Owner

Nathraj also criticized city officials for ignoring feedback from residents and failing to regulate development in flood-prone areas. Despite the damage to his business, Nathraj said he is doing what he can to help those affected, offering free rooms to displaced residents.

As cleanup continues, residents say the city needs to stop reacting and start preparing.

News Channel 3 has reached out to city officials for comment but has not yet received a response.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Supervisors authorized on Tuesday the County Sheriff’s Department to initiate a review of potential amendments to fee schedules for processing applications to establish massage parlors, strip clubs, short-stay motels, sexually oriented bookstores, and related businesses throughout unincorporated communities.   

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board approved the agency’s plans to study current fees and, based on that effort, return with proposed adjustments.

Sheriff’s officials noted in documents posted to the board’s agenda Tuesday that the fee schedules arranged in Ordinance No. 743 have not been modified since the summer of 2010.

“There is no impact on residents and businesses at this time,” according to an agency statement.

The current fee to apply for the establishment of a massage parlor is $595, while the processing fee for other venues is $3,802.   

The businesses in question include partial and full nude strip clubs, motion picture theaters featuring pornography, coin-operated arcades that contain porn videos, “sex-oriented cabarets,” or restaurants where topless dancing and service is provided, and bookstores peddling porn magazines, DVDs, and other media.   

“Sex-oriented motels” are also included in the ordinance. They’re defined as lodges where rooms regularly feature a menu of cable or satellite stations oriented to porn. The motels also generally offer rooms for “a six-hour period, or rent any single room more than twice in a 24-hour period,” according to the ordinance.   

There was no indication of the exact number of the designated businesses that operate within unincorporated areas.   

Under county zoning regulations, the designated establishments are not permitted within 1,000 feet of any grade school, religious institution or public park, nor within 500 feet of any residence. Except for massage parlors and motels, the businesses covered under Ordinance No. 743 are additionally not permitted to operate between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m.  

Parlors are restricted to the hours of 7 a.m. to midnight.   

Sheriff’s officials are expected to return with proposed revised fee schedules before the year’s end.

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