Emanuel Jenkins, a 35-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, California, was tragically found dead in the early morning hours of June 15, 2017. His body was discovered in the 66200 block of Pierson Boulevard, near Cactus Drive. The cause of death was determined to be a fatal gunshot wound, marking the incident as a homicide. The Desert Hot Springs Police Department conducted an investigation but initially did not release detailed information about the circumstances surrounding Jenkins' death
or how they identified a suspect.
In December 2020, Richard Alex Bernal, a 26-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, was charged with the murder of Emanuel Jenkins. Bernal was already in custody at the time, facing multiple other felony charges. According to court records, Bernal was accused of discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury, a sentence-enhancing allegation that added severity to the murder charge. The prosecution's case against Bernal included evidence that linked him to the crime scene, although specific details of this evidence were not publicly disclosed.
Bernal's legal troubles extended beyond the murder charge. He was also implicated in a separate incident in August 2018, where he allegedly opened fire on two men during a gun sale-turned-robbery in Desert Hot Springs. One of the victims was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. Bernal faced charges of attempted murder and robbery in that case, but all counts were dismissed the following year. Despite these serious allegations, Bernal had no documented felony convictions in Riverside County prior to these incidents.
The trial for the murder of Emanuel Jenkins was scheduled to begin on October 15, 2024, at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Harold Hopp presided over the case, maintaining Bernal's bail at $1 million. The Desert Hot Springs Police Department has not provided further updates on the investigation or additional suspects involved in Jenkins' death. The community continues to seek justice for Emanuel Jenkins, hoping that the trial will bring closure to his family and friends.
