In the early hours of August 24, 2024, Indio police responded to reports of gunfire and multiple people yelling in the 80000 block of Jennifer Court. Upon arrival, officers discovered 23-year-old Carlos Arriaga lying in front of a residence with a gunshot wound. He was immediately transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators identified 21-year-old Ruben Molina of Indio as the primary suspect in the shooting.
He was apprehended without incident around noon the same day in the 44000 block of Avenue 44. Molina was subsequently booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $1 million.
On August 28, 2024, Molina appeared at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. A felony settlement conference was scheduled for October 2, 2024. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting remains ongoing. Authorities have urged anyone with additional information to contact the Indio Police Department or Valley Crime Stoppers.
