Suspect in deadly shootings arrested in Twentynine Palms

A Twentynine Palms man suspected of shooting two people was arrested and charged with murder.

On Thursday (June 18) at around 8:30, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 6300 block of Lupine Avenue in Twentynine Palms for a report of an assault. Deputies say they found a man who had been shot by an unknown assailant. The owner of the property told Z107.7 that the victim had been shot in the armpit and leg. The property owner said that the suspect fled into the open desert. The victim was flown to Desert Regional Medical Center, and the Sheriff’s Department says that he is expected to survive.

On Friday (June 19) at around 12:49 p.m., deputies say they responded to a home in the 6100 block of Lupine Avenue in Twentynine Palms for a report of a kidnapping, only a few blocks away from the shooting on the previous day. Deputies said that they found a victim dead in his home from a gunshot wound. The victim was identified as Robert Murphy, a 62 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms.

Deputies say that both victims were shot by the same suspect, identified as Bristen Banales, a 30 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms. The Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Detail initiated a search for Bonales. He was located a short time later in the 6300 block of Cahuilla Avenue.

Bristen Banales was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center without bail.