News headline from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department:

At around 2:30 p.m. on June 25th, the Indio Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at the 81900 block of Hoover Avenue in Indio.  Minutes later, the officer requested emergency assistance, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Thermal Station deputies and California Highway Patrol responded to assist.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Karl Watson, 47, of Palm Desert, went to that address looking for Ana Maria Gonzalez, 50, of Indio.  Watson located Gonzalez at the location and shot her several times while she sat in her car.  The connection between Watson and Gonzalez has not been released.

Soon after, the Indio Police officer arrived on scene and Watson reportedly shot toward the officer numerous times.  The officer managed to return fire.  Watson and the officer then became involved in a physical struggle for a gun.  As a result, the Indio Police officer received substantial but non-life-threatening injuries.  The secondary Indio Police officer arrived on scene as the first officer was physically struggling with Watson over a gun.  The secondary officer fired his duty weapon at Watson.

Arriving back-up officers immediately provided medical assistance to Gonzalez, Watson, and the officer.  Cal-Fire paramedics were also called to the scene.  Gonzalez and Watson both died from their injuries at the scene and the police officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The investigation is continuing and there is no additional information available for release at this time.  Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact Investigator Randall Wortman at 760-393-3500 or Investigator Robert Garcia at 760-836-1600.

Filed under Headline

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Not working? Click here!