Authorities have identified a 34-year-old man as the suspect for a fatal shooting in Coachella, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies investigated a report of shots fired at a home in the 85-400 block of Valley Road on Sept. 2, 2024 around 5:30 a.m. They found Juan Sanchez, 58, of Coachella inside the residence with apparent gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s department said. Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene.

The department said it identified Adrian Martinez, 34, of Coachella, as the suspect for the murder and believe he acted alone after investigating over the past year. He is in custody at the Cois Byrd Detention Center for a different case but on Sept. 12 was additionally charged with murder, the department added.

Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachel

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