Authorities have made headway in the investigation surrounding the homicide that occurred in Coachella last October. In an update provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, investigators have apprehended two suspects in connection to the murder of 44-year-old Roman Gamboa of Thermal, California. The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Gael Silva and a 17-year-old male juvenile, were arrested on December 3, according to the department's official report.
Silva and the unnamed juvenile, both residents of Coachella, have been booked following their arrest with the effort to assist coming from the Major Crimes Unit and the Coachella Community Action Team. In the course of their booking, Silva was taken to the Robert Presley Detention Center on a murder charge, while the juvenile was placed in juvenile hall, said Sergeant Alberto Loureiro. As the 17-year-old is a minor, legal constraints prevent the release of his identity. The state of the investigation remains fluid and active, with the Central Homicide Unit leading the charge and withholding further details temporarily.
The victim, Gamboa, was found deceased from apparent gunshot wounds in the early hours of October 12, as deputies responded to an emergency call on Shady Lane in Coachella. The initial response team secured the location, paving the way for the Central Homicide Unit to step in and assume responsibility for what was now a murder investigation, as per the report.
While the significant breakthrough in the case has brought some measure of progress, the Sheriff’s Office is keen to appeal to the community for any further information. Investigator Ortiz of the Central Homicide Unit and Investigator Glasper from the Thermal Station are the designated points of contact for those looking to potentially contribute any pertinent details that could help to finally unravel the entire narrative surrounding Gamboa's tragic demise. Members of the public are encouraged to come forward with anything that might assist the ongoing investigation, and for media inquiries, the Media Information Bureau stands ready to respond.
