Katie Gagliano and Brett Kelman

The Desert Sun

Three men and one teenager were shot in Desert Hot Springs Wednesday afternoon after an argument between neighbors descended into gunfire on a residential street.

Police said no one suffered life-threatening injuries in the shooting. As of Wednesday night, none of the victims had been identified and no arrests had been announced.

Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Dale Mondary said the shooting stemmed from an incident that occurred earlier in the day when a resident who lived on 4th Street near Cactus Avenue accused one of his neighbors of burglary. Police investigated, but found no evidence of a crime, Mondary said.

Later in the day, the neighbor who was accused confronted the person who reported him to police. An argument grew into a fight, then the fight sparked an exchange of gunfire, the police chief said.

One man was shot in the torso, another was shot in the leg, and a third was shot in the head, but only grazed. The teenager was hit in the groin. All four were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

"It appears that none of their injuries are life threatening," Mondary said. He added that police were confident that all shooters had been taken into custody.

After the shooting, Desert Hot Springs police, with help from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, cordoned off a block of 4th Street to interview witnesses and further investigate the incident.

At least a dozen bystanders crowded outside the police tape, some gathering as they waited to return to their homes. Tensions escalated just after 4 p.m. when police appeared to take a man into custody.

Family members stuck outside the police perimeter screamed at officers as they pressed against the police tape, trying to see what was happening.

"Why are you taking him to jail?" one man shouted. "Who else in the house are you taking to jail?"