This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The two men who shot and killed each other at a Palm Desert Toys R' Us yesterday have been identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City.
Apparently, as two women not involved in the crime or investigation began to argue "the two men pulled out handguns and ran down the store aisles shooting at one another," the LA Times found according to witness reports.
"These guys ran into each other, they squared off against each other, they killed each other," Sheriff's Capt. Daniel Wilham told the paper. "It's a miracle that these were the only two people killed, given it was a crowded toy store."
One witness who was caught in the crossfire laid down and pretended to be dead. "The gunshots were going over my head," she told The Desert Sun. "I could feel the wind from them."
AP Photo/Michael Snyder, The Desert Sun
