An investigation was underway Saturday into two shootings in which one person was wounded in Palm Springs.
The first one was reported Thursday at about 6:45 p.m. in the 4400 block of Camino Parocella, where one person was wounded but survived following a drive-by shooting, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
The second shooting happened about 2:45 p.m. Friday about four miles away in the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood, police said. Officers were sent to the area of Bon Air Drive and Granada Avenue on a shots-fired call and found shell casings on the ground but no victims or witnesses.
Earlier this month, police announced that a nearly year-long investigation into dozens of Palm Springs shootings — including three recent homicides — culminated in search warrants being served in the Desert Highland Gateway Estates and Santiago Sunrise Village neighborhoods.
More than 100 law enforcement officers entered several homes on Aug. 6, stemming from an investigation into 24 confirmed shootings in and around the two neighborhoods dating to October of last year. In that time, police say they also received 61 reports of shots fired in those neighborhoods, although evidence of gunfire was not found.
Three days after the operation, Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes addressed the City Council during a special meeting called in response to the violence. He said the crimes were a result of two rival gangs clashing.
“This is not a Gateway Estates problem, this is not a 1500 East San Rafael problem: This is a city of Palm Springs problem. It can happen anywhere in our city if these two rival entities cross paths,” Reyes said.
It was not clear if any of the recent shootings were gang-related, and additional information about them was not provided.
Anyone with information about the shootings was urged to call the Palm Springs Police Department Crimes Against Persons Unit at 760-323-8129. Anonymous tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.