David Spann, 33, of Palm Springs, California, was fatally shot in his home on East Via Escuela on April 23, 2021. The shooting happened about 2:30 a.m. during a confrontation with two people later identified as unlicensed bail agents, Fabian Hector Herrera and his mother, Lisa Roberta Vargas. Spann was reported to have been wielding a knife when Herrera shot him multiple times.

Herrera had a prior felony conviction and was not legally permitted to possess a firearm; Vargas was accused of providing him the gun. Both Herrera and Vargas faced murder charges plus counts including delivering a firearm to a prohibited person and perjury by false affidavit. There was no official law enforcement warrant for Spann’s arrest; he was wanted by a bail agency, which raised questions about the legality of the agents acting at the scene. Officers Rhett Arden and Emmi Kramer testified they initially believed Herrera and Vargas were legitimate agents, contributing to confusion during the response.