EL MIRAGE, Calif. – In a grim discovery on Tuesday night, the bodies of six individuals were found near a remote dirt crossroads in the Mojave Desert. Authorities stated that the victims appeared to have been shot to death, and were located near two vehicles, one of which was covered in bullet holes.
The bodies were found around 8:15 p.m. when deputies responded to a welfare check off Highway 395, approximately 25 miles northwest of Victorville in San Bernardino County. Initially, officials reported five victims, but during their investigation, a sixth body was discovered a few hundred feet away, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez.
The sex and age of the deceased have not been confirmed at this time, Rodriguez said at a Wednesday morning news conference. Although the circumstances surrounding the deaths were also unconfirmed, reports indicated that the victims had been fatally shot.
Gruesome Sky5 footage showed the bodies close to the vehicles with dozens of evidence markers and bullet casings surrounding them, with some of the bodies appearing to have been burned.
Bobby Chacon, a retired FBI Special Agent, stressed the urgency of identifying the victims, stating, “It’s imperative to find out who these people are because there could be additional people in danger.”
While investigators are still piecing the case together, Chacon noted that the level of violence in this case points to a broader criminal network, suggesting a possible gang or cartel-related connection due to the number of people involved and the gruesomeness of the killings.
Authorities have not released any information about the identities of the victims and remained on the scene Wednesday evening, while also not revealing if any suspects were being sought in connection with the deaths. KTLA reporter Annie Rose Ramos described the location as “incredibly desolate.”
The investigation into this tragic incident continues, and officials are working to uncover the circumstances surrounding the deaths as the community awaits updates.