Five suspects were arrested Sunday in the shooting deaths of six people in a remote area of the California desert in what was likely a drug deal gone bad, authorities announced Monday.
Detectives believe the victims decided to meet in the Mojave Desert as part of a sale of “illicit marijuana” before all hell broke loose, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said during a news conference Monday night. .
The bodies of four of the deceased were partially burned in one vehicle and another victim was found in a second vehicle, authorities said.
The sixth victim was found dead a short distance from the vehicle, said San Bernardino sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Warrick said.
One of the vehicles at the scene was full of gunshots.
The gruesome discovery was made last Tuesday around 8 p.m. after one of the victims called authorities and said she had been shot, Warrick said.
Five suspects were arrested Sunday in the shooting deaths of six people in a remote area of the California desert. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department detectives believe the victims decided to meet in the Mojave Desert as part of a sale of “illicit marijuana.” ABC30
San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said the area has an ongoing problem involving illegal marijuana farms.
“For all intents and purposes, it appears that illicit marijuana was the driving force behind these murders and that’s all we really know at this time,” the top cop said, claiming it was part of organized crime.
Toniel Báez-Duarte, 34, and Mateo Báez-Duarte, 24, brothers from Apple Valley, as well as José Nicolás, 33, José Gregorio, 34, and José Manuel Burgos Parra, 26, all of Adelanto, were arrested at a complex. Warrick said.
Eight firearms were also recovered.
The bodies of four of the deceased were partially burned in one vehicle and another victim was found in a second vehicle. ABC30 San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said the area has an ongoing problem involving illegal marijuana farms. AP
All five were charged with murder and held without bail while prosecutors review the case.
Three of the victims were identified as Baldemar Mondragón-Albarrán, 34, Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, and Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 25, the sheriff’s office said.
A 45-year-old man was also identified, but his name has not been released pending family notification.
Authorities are still trying to determine who the other two victims were.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn