A man with a previous felony conviction has been apprehended following a firearms assault that occurred earlier this year in Twentynine Palms. According to a report released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, 67-year-old John Gonzales was taken into custody on the evening of May 14, after a months-long investigation into the incident that took place in January 2024.
The initial call to deputies of the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station described a scenario where the victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was shot at while riding a dirt bike in the desert area around South Amboy Road. The case had hit a dead end until, in May, it was handed over to detectives from the specialized bureau, which eventually led to identifying Gonzales as a suspect.
During the follow-up investigation, a search warrant was executed at Gonzales's place of residence on the 3300 block of Amboy Road, where law enforcement discovered an arsenal. They recovered 23 firearms, ammunition numbering in the thousands, components for making firearms, high-capacity magazines, and even body armor. This daunting inventory was found in the home of someone who, by law, was prohibited from possessing it.
Gonzales now faces charges of assault with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is currently being held at the West Valley Detention Center; his bail is set at $40,000.00. Authorities have encouraged anyone with further information about the case to contact the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station or the We-Tip Hotline anonymously.
