Parole agent shoots person during altercation; ambulance transporting victim crashes

A state parole agent shot a man during a confrontation in Palm Springs on Monday morning, with the ambulance transporting him later crashing and injuring five occupants, police said.

According to Palm Springs police, the parole agent radioed police at approximately 11:35 a.m. requesting backup while engaged in a physical altercation with someone he was trying to detain in the 2700 block of East Vista Chino. As officers headed to the location, the agent reported that shots had been fired.

The man involved in the confrontation sustained a gunshot wound, and was reported to be in stable condition. Authorities reported no other injuries at the scene.

While emergency personnel were transporting the wounded man to a medical facility, the ambulance collided with another vehicle near Sunrise Way and Vista Chino. Five people inside the ambulance — the shooting victim, an EMT, a firefighter, an officer and the driver — suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

The driver of the other vehicle was not hurt. A second ambulance was dispatched to continue transporting the person who had been shot.

Authorities closed East Vista Chino between Whitewater Club Drive and North Farrell Drive in both directions. Heavy traffic resulted from the closure.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Force Investigation Division has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Detective Alex Doherty at 760-323-8142 or Alexander.Doherty@palmspringsca.gov.

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