Suspect Arrested Months After Bar Shooting In Desert Hot Springs

Diego Antonio Gallardo, 32, was booked into jail on $1 million bail for the September 2025 shooting.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged for a shooting incident that occurred in Desert Hot Springs, California in September 2025. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, which took place on Palm Drive and Second Street. Authorities had been searching for the suspect, Diego Antonio Gallardo, for several months before he was located and apprehended this week by a joint law enforcement task force.

Why it matters

Gun violence and public safety are ongoing concerns in the Desert Hot Springs community, which has seen an uptick in violent crime in recent years. The arrest of this suspect, who had evaded authorities for months, is seen as an important step in holding perpetrators accountable and restoring a sense of security in the area.

The details

According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting on Palm Drive and Second Street in Desert Hot Springs on September 21, 2025. They found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, who was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives quickly identified Diego Antonio Gallardo, 32, as the suspect, but he had fled the scene and remained at large for several months. Investigators later recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting after executing search warrants. This week, Gallardo was located and arrested in Desert Hot Springs by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

  • On September 21, 2025, officers responded to reports of a shooting in Desert Hot Springs.
  • Gallardo was arrested on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Diego Antonio Gallardo

A 32-year-old man who was arrested and charged for a shooting incident in Desert Hot Springs in September 2025.

Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team

A law enforcement task force that assisted in locating and arresting Gallardo.

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force

A law enforcement task force that assisted in locating and arresting Gallardo.

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What’s next

The judge will determine whether to grant Gallardo bail at his upcoming court hearing.

The takeaway

This arrest highlights the ongoing challenges Desert Hot Springs faces with gun violence and the importance of sustained law enforcement efforts to apprehend suspects and hold them accountable, even when they evade capture for an extended period.