Riverside County authorities are asking for help solving the 2020 shootings of seven people suspected of growing illegal marijuana.
The killing occurred on September 7, 2020 in the community of Aguanga on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest. The seven victims, most killed in their sleep, were found in the home after investigators said Friday that it was likely a home invasion robbery.
More than 1,000 marijuana plants and hundreds of pounds of processed marijuana were discovered on an Inland Empire property east of Temecula.
No arrests have been made in this incident.
NBCLA Seven people were shot at a home in Aguanga in September 2020.
“This investigation was extensive and very difficult,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said at a news conference at sheriff’s headquarters in downtown Riverside. “We followed up on leads and identified dozens of people. I conducted an interview,” he said. We need the community’s help. We know there are people who have information about these murders. We implore you to do the right thing. ”
At a news conference Friday, the Riverside County Sheriff asked anyone with information about the killing to come forward. In addition to identifying robbery as a possible motive, authorities said they have identified the medium-sized, dark-colored SUV used in the crime.
“Over the past four years, multiple leads have been identified and investigated by our investigative team,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Investigators believe this was a targeted incident involving Laotian gang members in the San Diego area.”
Three “persons of interest” with ties to a criminal street gang have been identified, said sheriff’s Sgt. Jared Bishop said. Bishop said investigators were reviewing thousands of pages of evidence and often required interpreters.
The victims were two men and five women who lived on a secluded hillside property in the 45000 block of Highway 371, along with at least a dozen other people. Bianco said between $1 million and $5 million worth of marijuana was processed at the illegal cultivation site. .
Locations were targeted between midnight and 2 a.m.
“There were a lot of people in that (residence). They all ran away and shots started ringing out,” Bianco told reporters. Losing seven people is terrible, but it could have been more. ”
One of the seven people with fatal injuries survived to be taken to a hospital that morning, Bianco said. She gave a statement to lawmakers before her death.
Bianco said some of those working at the site may have come to the site as trafficked workers and may have been forced to repay debts incurred on arranged admissions. . He also said several people were likely paid to grow marijuana.
In 2020, there were more than a dozen deadly attacks at indoor and outdoor illegal grow sites across the county, including one along Route 371. Mr Bianco said targeted operations by the security services and partner agencies have since been carried out.
That time left “a growing marijuana graveyard.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact us at 951-955-2777 or vmmagana@riversidesheriff.org.
Source link
