EL MIRAGE, Calif. – A remote dirt crossroads in the Mojave Desert was the scene of a grisly discovery Tuesday night. Six people, likely shot to death, were found near two vehicles, including one that was riddled with bullet holes, authorities said.
The bodies were discovered around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday when deputies responded to a welfare check off Highway 395 roughly 25 miles northwest of Victorville in San Bernardino County.
Officials initially indicated there were five victims but during their investigation, a sixth body was discovered a few hundred feet away, said sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez.
“We have not confirmed the sex or the age of any of the decedents at this point,” Rodriguez told reporters at a Wednesday morning news conference.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths were also unconfirmed, however; Victor Valley News Group reported the victims had been fatally shot.
The bodies were found close to the vehicles with dozens of evidence markers and bullet casings surrounding them, gruesome Sky5 footage showed.
Some of the bodies also appeared to have been burned. It’s unclear how long the bodies had been there.
A dark-colored SUV with an Oregon license plate was riddled with bullet holes and appeared to have some of its windows blown out. The other vehicle, a light-colored minivan, appeared to be undamaged.
Bobby Chacon, a retired FBI Special Agent, said time is of the essence when it comes to identifying the victims.
“It’s imperative to find out who these people are because there could be additional people in danger,” Chacon said.
Chacon said while investigators are still piecing the case together, it appears the level of violence in this case speaks to a broader criminal network.
“Certainly by looking at the number of people involved and in how gruesome they were not only killed, but then set on fire, this has some of the earmarks of a gang-style slaying. It could be gang-related, it could be cartel-related.”
No information about the identities of the victims has been released. Authorities remained on the scene Wednesday evening.
“It is incredibly desolate. I cannot bring home that point enough,” KTLA reporter Annie Rose Ramos said of the location.
Authorities did not reveal if any suspects were being sought in connection with the deaths.
“It’s going to be heartbreaking no matter what the situation is or what they discover out there as far as the circumstances surrounding it,” said Rodriguez.