Five suspects were arrested Sunday in the shooting deaths of six people in a remote part of a California desert in what was likely a drug deal gone bad, authorities announced Monday.
Detectives believe the victims decided to meet up at the Mojave Desert as part of an “illicit marijuana” sale before all hell broke loose, San Bernardino County Sheriff officials said during a Monday evening press conference.
Four of the deceased men’s bodies 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, San Bernardino Sheriff Sgt. Michael Warrick said.
One of the vehicles at the scene was littered with gunshots.
The gruesome discovery was made last Tuesday around 8 p.m. after one of the victims called authorities and said he had been shot, Warrick said.
San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said the area has an ongoing problem connected to illegal marijuana farms.
“For all intents and purposes, it looks like illicit marijuana was the driving force behind these murders and that’s all we really know at this point,” the top cop said, stating it was part of organized crime.
Toniel Baez-Duarte, 34, and Mateo Baez-Duarte, 24, brothers from Apple Valley, as well as Jose Nicolas, 33, Jose Gregorio, 34, and Jose Manuel Burgos Parra, 26, all of Adelanto, were arrested on a compound, Warrick said.
Eight firearms were also recovered.
The five were booked on murder charges and held without bail as prosecutors review the case.
Three of the victims were identified as Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, and 25-year-old Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 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 figure out who the other two victims were.
