Shooting Deaths in the Desert

PALM DESERT (CNS) - A total of five people were injured in a pair of shooting assaults that went down five hours and a half mile apart today in Palm Desert, a police detective said.
``We have three shot, two beat up,'' Palm Desert police Detective Sgt. Dan Bressler told City News Service. ``We have nobody in custody, no guns, no bodies. People are less than forthcoming.''
No fatalities were reported in the shootings, and there was no apparent connection other than the proximity, Bressler said. ``At this point everybody's still alive.''
The first shootings were reported about 12:50 a.m. in the 66000 block of 2nd Street, and the second round of gunfire broke out at 5:45 a.m. in the 66900 block of Pierson Boulevard. according to police.
The violent incidents began before 1 a.m., when police responded to a reported disturbance on 2nd Street and heard gunshots as they arrived. Whoever fired the shots escaped, and police found one young man shot and two young men beaten.
All three were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. None of their injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
While police were at the shooting scene on 2nd Street, more gunfire rang out in the 66900 block of Pierson Boulevard near Verbena Drive. Officers followed the sound of gunshots and found two people down in a front yard and a driveway outside a home.
Both of the victims had been shot numerous times, according to police. They were also taken to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment, and they were expected to survive.
One of the shooters in the second incident was described as a white man in his late teens, about 5 feet-11 inches tall, thin build, with spiked red hair, and he was last seen wearing green shorts and a shirt of no specific description.
Police said they did not know that the types of weapons were used in both incidents and had no information that either incident was gang-related.