A felon accused of gunning down a 27-year-old Indio man more than four years ago will be arraigned next month on first-degree murder and other charges.
Pedro Angel Gonzalez, 28, was arrested last week following a years-long investigation by the Indio Police Department, with assistance from the Riverside County Gang Impact Team, in connection with the death of Joseph Espinoza Mendez.
Along with murder, Gonzalez is charged with shooting at an occupied dwelling, firearm assault, being a felon in possession of a gun and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, with an additional enhancement for perpetrating a crime while on bail.
The defendant made his initial court appearance Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Gail O’Rane at the Riverside Hall of Justice. She appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for March 5 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Gonzalez is being held in lieu of $1.1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Indio police, on the afternoon of Dec. 14, 2021, the defendant allegedly targeted Mendez as he stood in his garage in the 43000 block of Nairobi Drive, just north of Liberia Place.
Sgt. Abe Plata alleged Gonzalez fired multiple rounds, mortally wounding the victim, then fled.
Witnesses called 911, and paramedics arrived minutes later, discovering Gonzalez unconscious but clinging to life. He was taken to nearby JFK Memorial Hospital, where he died hours later.
The homicide investigation initially netted few clues, but further efforts led to undisclosed evidence that prompted detectives last week to present a case for charges against Gonzalez to the District Attorney’s Office.
The defendant was arrested without incident on Feb. 11 in Coachella, and the criminal complaint was submitted to the court Tuesday.
A possible motive for the alleged attack has not been revealed.
Court records indicated Gonzalez at least one prior-strike felony conviction, but it wasn’t listed.