Homicide Cold Case Reopened Into Death Of Riverside County Man Found Shot While Driving

LA QUINTA, CA — Detectives have reopened a cold case murder investigation from 2002 when a 27-year-old man was found shot to death inside his car in La Quinta.

Around 4:15 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2002, deputies responded to a crash near Avenida Mendoza and Calle Durango in La Quinta and found Hernan Marquez, of Indio, dead from gunshot wounds inside his vehicle, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators learned Marquez had attended a house party the night before in the 52200 block of Avenida Mendoza, where there was an altercation.

Marquez was shot multiple times as he drove away from the area. Authorities said after Marquez was shot, he continued driving at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into several parked vehicles.

Detectives investigated the case but were not able to identify the person who shot Marquez, authorities said.

“Almost 20 years later, as part of the sheriff’s office’s ongoing efforts to review unsolved homicide cases, investigators from the central homicide unit recently reexamined this case. Through this review, investigators identified several potential leads and follow-up tasks, aided by advancements in forensic testing,” authorities said.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help with providing any information they may have about the fatal shooting.

Anyone with information about the case was encouraged to call Investigator Robertson or Deputy Lucifora at 951-955-2777.