The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released body-camera footage of a man suspected in a hit-and-run case firing shots at a deputy before officers returned fire at a parking lot in Thousand Palms. The incident occurred after deputies stopped a car, suspected in the hit-and-run, and the passenger began shooting at them. The deputy who was hit is recovering, while the suspect is in custody and facing multiple felony charges. The investigation is ongoing. Tom Coulter reported
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has recently released body-camera footage that provides a detailed account of a violent encounter between law enforcement officers and a suspect involved in a hit-and-run case. The incident took place in Thousand Palms in October. The footage shows the suspect firing shots at a deputy from his car, prompting officers to retaliate by shooting back at him in a parking lot.
The shootings occurred after deputies stopped a car with two occupants near the intersection of Ramon Road and Robert Road. This area, located east of Interstate 10 and near a popular In-N-Out Burger, is home to a strip mall that houses several businesses. The car that was stopped was suspected to be involved in a felony hit-and-run case, as mentioned by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in the video released on Friday. While one deputy was detaining the driver, two additional deputies arrived to assist with the investigation.
The body-camera footage reveals that as the two deputies approached the passenger side of the vehicle, the seated passenger suddenly brandished a pistol and started firing shots at the deputies, one of whom was positioned right outside the car window. This unexpected act of aggression caught the officers off guard.
The suspect then barricaded himself inside the vehicle and refused to comply with further commands from the officers. This prompted officials from the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, the California Highway Patrol, and other agencies to join the scene and provide assistance. According to Sheriff Bianco, the passenger even pointed his handgun at the police officers on multiple occasions, which led to the officers firing more shots in response to neutralize the threat.
During the exchange of gunfire, one deputy, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was hit by the suspect’s bullets and had to be immediately transported to a hospital for treatment. Fortunately, the deputy is currently in the process of recovering from his injuries. Meanwhile, the suspected shooter, identified as Kristian Galeana of Thousand Palms, was also taken to a hospital after deputies provided him with necessary medical aid at the scene. Galeana is currently in the custody of the sheriff’s department, where he is recovering from his injuries. The driver, on the other hand, was unharmed during the incident.
The body-camera videos released by the department offer a comprehensive view of the events that unfolded that day. In one of the videos, an unidentified deputy is seen approaching the passenger side of the car and expressing doubts about the passenger’s identity. Within seconds, the suspect opens fire from his seat, causing the deputies to momentarily retreat before returning fire.
Another body-camera footage captures a deputy instructing the passenger to exit the vehicle and show his hands. However, the suspect responds by firing shots in the deputy’s direction. The video shows the deputy seeking cover behind a parked car in front of Desert Spa, a business located in the shopping plaza, before firing multiple shots towards the suspect.
Two more body-camera videos released on Friday depict two other deputies, one armed with a handgun and the other with a larger assault rifle, firing at the suspect while urging him to lower his hands. These videos provide additional angles and perspectives of the intense confrontation.
According to jail records, the suspect, Kristian Galeana, 27, has been charged with several felony counts, including first-degree attempted murder. The alleged driver, Jose Eduardo Rosales Perez, is also facing several felony charges, including attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm as a felon.
The shootings remain under investigation, with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the sheriff department’s Force Investigations Detail collaborating to review the event and gather all necessary evidence..