5 arrested in deaths of 6 found murdered in desert: Sheriff

Authorities say they have arrested five suspects after six people were found shot to death last week in a desert community in San Bernardino County, California.

At a press conference Monday night, authorities said multiple search warrants were served on Sunday in the case. Five suspects, all in their 20s and 30s were arrested, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said.

All suspects are being held without bail and eight guns were recovered during the arrests, authorities said Monday night.

At this time, investigators believe the six deaths resulted from a dispute over marijuana, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said. The victims appear to have been involved in criminal activity, authorities said Monday night.

The victims were shot to death, and four of the six bodies were burned, according to officials.

The district attorney is reviewing the case for charges.

The Sheriff said there is a large illegally-grown marijuana problem in the area.

Shortly after 8 p.m. local time last Tuesday evening, authorities responded to a wellness check in a remote area off of Highway 395 and found “multiple deceased people,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

Initially, five people were found dead last Tuesday but a sixth body was located last Wednesday morning during the ongoing investigation, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said at a prior news conference.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had offered assistance to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation into the bodies found in the desert about 50 miles outside of Los Angeles, but local investigators are handling the case themselves.

A blue Chevy SUV was also seen riddled with bullet holes in the area where some of the bodies were found.