The tragedy that sent midday shoppers in an upscale community in California running for their lives just a few days ago is still not completely clear on motive. However, details by police are saying that there may have been bad blood between them.
In what may be erroneously linked to a tragedy sparked by Black Friday shopping madness, the shooting deaths at the Toys R Us in Palm Desert, CA was more likely a result of an ongoing feud of some kind.
Original reports in the
Los Angeles Times describe witness accounts of women fighting and cussing prior to the shooting.
Sara Frahm, 25, of La Quinta was shopping for electronic toys at the time of the shooting. She told The Times she heard two women fighting and swearing in an aisle next to her. She said employees went to break up the fight and that all of the sudden a number of people yelled, "He has a gun!" She said she heard six or seven shots.
Mike Stitt of Yucca Valley was shopping with his wife and two children when he saw two women fighting and calling each other names. Both were with men. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot it in the air, then shot the other man in the back, Stitt told The Times.
One woman shopper who was just a few feet away told a
local Palm Springs reporter that "She said two young Latinas got into a fight, and that a man (Meza) showed he had a gun."
A statement released by the toy mega giant emphasized that the shooting likely stemmed from a "personal dispute," and was not associated with the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday.
Palm Desert, California is known for being an "upper class" community due to its above average income levels compared to both the state and the nation. It boasts of nearly 90 percent Caucasian residency and serves as a popular temporary home for Canadians and those in colder United States climates who migrate to warmer weather during the colder months of the year, more commonly known as "snowbirds."
The two men who gunned each other down over the alleged fight between the two women they were with are identified as:
Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs and Juan Meza, 28, both of Cathedral City.
Cathedral City, California is populated by over 60 percent Hispanics according to the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where many live in an area of the city in what is called "Little Mexico." It has taken some criticism from some for its nickname, Cat City, and is said to be a place that is associated with youth gang crime. Desert Hot Springs is home to a very high portion of Hispanics and is also the home to many hot mineral water spas and hotels.
The shooting occurred before noon on Friday and the bodies were removed later that night. Toys R Us reopened its doors on Saturday to shoppers.
No one was arrested and the argument between the two women was not part of the investigation,
according to Sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez. With the number of shots fired in the crowded store that serves as a children's dream store come to life during this time of year, it was a true Christmas miracle that no one else was hit by the shots being fired in what appears to be an ongoing rivalry and some bad blood.
