Marco Torrez, a 21-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, California, tragically lost his life on November 17, 2019. The incident occurred in the parking lot behind the "Super Liquor Store" located at the corner of Palm Drive and Buena Vista Avenue. Officers responded to a shooting call at approximately 10:13 p.m. and found Torrez suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Despite the life-saving measures initiated by the responding officers, Torrez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Torrez's death quickly led to the arrest of 19-year-old Matthew Gallegos, a reputed gang member from Desert Hot Springs. Gallegos was taken into custody the following morning at an apartment on Third Street. He was charged with murder and robbery, with additional sentencing enhancement allegations for discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury, being an active gang member, and committing a murder in the commission of a robbery. Gallegos's arraignment was initially scheduled for November 20, 2019, but was rescheduled to a later date.
Family members of Marco Torrez described him as a loving and hardworking individual who always found ways to cheer up those around him. He had a girlfriend and was a graduate of Desert Hot Springs High School. The community mourned his loss, creating a memorial in his honor and expressing their grief and disbelief over the senseless act of violence.
The case against Matthew Gallegos progressed through the legal system, with Gallegos pleading not guilty to the charges. The investigation into the shooting was thorough, with detectives gathering evidence and surveillance footage from the liquor store to build their case. The shooting of Marco Torrez was part of a troubling pattern of violence in the area, with another man being shot to death just six days earlier about a half-mile away. Authorities continued to investigate all angles of the case, but no public comments were made regarding any potential links between the two incidents.
