In a grim incident in a remote area of the California desert, six people were shot dead in what appears to be a drug deal gone awry, as announced by authorities on Monday. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths.
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff officials, detectives believe that the victims had arranged to meet in the Mojave Desert for an “illicit marijuana” sale, and the situation escalated into violence. The bodies of four of the deceased men were discovered in one vehicle, partially burned, while another victim was found in a second vehicle. The sixth victim was located a short distance from the vehicle. Gunshots had riddled one of the vehicles at the scene.
The horrific discovery was made last Tuesday around 8 p.m. after one of the victims called authorities to report that he had been shot, according to San Bernardino Sheriff Sgt. Michael Warrick.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus stated during a press conference that the area has a persistent issue related to illegal marijuana farms and suggested that the murders were driven by illicit marijuana activities, potentially linked to organized crime.
The arrested suspects include Toniel Baez-Duarte, 34, and Mateo Baez-Duarte, 24, both brothers from Apple Valley, as well as Jose Nicolas, 33, Jose Gregorio, 34, and Jose Manuel Burgos Parra, 26, all from Adelanto. They were apprehended on a compound, and eight firearms were recovered.
The suspects have been booked on murder charges and are being held without bail while prosecutors review the case.
Three of the victims have been identified as Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, and 25-year-old Kevin Dariel Bonilla. The identity of a 45-year-old man has been determined but is being withheld pending family notification. Authorities are still working to identify the other two victims.