Coachella Man Charged with Murder Following Fatal Stabbing of 34-Year-Old

A convicted felon from Coachella, Mario Vera Gonzalez, was charged with murder and other offenses after allegedly fatally stabbing a 34-year-old man during a confrontation in the city. The victim, James Edward Montenegro, also from Coachella, was found dead at the scene following the attack on Monday night.

According to Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Rafael Victorio, the stabbing occurred just after 10 p.m. in a mobile home park located in the 51000 block of Calle Empalme, near Bagdouma Park. Gonzalez and Montenegro reportedly became involved in an unspecified dispute, during which Gonzalez allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Montenegro multiple times. Gonzalez fled the scene after the attack, but emergency responders were quickly dispatched following 911 calls from witnesses.

When law enforcement arrived, they found Montenegro dead at the scene. Gonzalez was located inside a nearby trailer but refused to exit. In response, sheriff's SWAT teams were called to the location, and a crisis negotiator communicated with Gonzalez over the phone. After several hours, Gonzalez surrendered and was taken into custody.

Gonzalez, who has a prior conviction for attempted armed robbery, faces charges of murder, along with a sentence-enhancing allegation for using a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He is also accused of committing the crime while on bail, although no details about his previous arrest have been disclosed.

During a court appearance on Thursday, Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to the charges. Superior Court Judge Arthur Hester set a felony settlement conference for February 10 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Gonzalez remains in custody without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

The exact motive for the stabbing, as well as the relationship between Gonzalez and Montenegro, has not been revealed by authorities.