A search was underway Wednesday for a murder suspect in Indio, officials confirmed to KPSP. They were looking for 26-year-old Angel Esparza of Coachella who is suspected of killing 16-year-old Angel Luna outside the Boys and Girls Club of Coachella on Dec. 3.
Esparza apparently crashed his car in an Indio neighborhood while fleeing from cops Wednesday afternoon. He then took off running, according to a KPSP Local 2 news crew on scene. Police arrested the driver and a passenger that were in the car with Esparza.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Coachella Police Officers first responded to a "suspect information call" of a man matching the Esparza's description at the 49000 block of Harrison in Coachella at about 11:36am.
The Indio Police Department says they then joined in, assisting with the search for Esparza as it extended into the city of Indio when police were following Esparza's car. Police said they were searching the area of Tahquitz Way ave. And Rubidoux Street.
Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Coachella was placed on lockdown for about 30 minutes, according to the Coachella Valley Unified School District. The district says they were not told a specific reason for the lockdown, other than "a routine search in the area." The school lifted the lockdown at about 12:45pm.
