Four generations of a family known to police for drug-related activity were killed at a California residence in what police described as a “cartel-like execution.”
Police and family members say a 16-year-old mother, her 10-month-old son and the child’s grandmother and grandmother are among the victims.
The home in Goshen, population 3,000, was raided by police last week.
Police say they are looking for two known suspects in a “targeted killing”.
At a news conference Tuesday, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux did not provide the names of the suspects, saying it was because of the possibility that the killers were looking to avoid capture, but he did reveal that authorities already knew a lot. Tragedy
Police searched the residence last week and found a stash of marijuana and methamphetamines.
Six people were killed in the firing on Monday. Three people survived.
“None of this was by accident,” Mr Boudreaux said. “It was deliberate, deliberate and horrific.”
Investigators identified the victims as:
Rosa Perez, 72
Eladio Perez Jr., 52
Jennifer Anella, 50
Marcos Perez, 19
Alyssa Perez, 16
Nicholas Perez, 10 months
According to Mr. Boudreau, one survivor lay on the floor with his feet against the door to prevent the attackers from entering the room.
“He was in such a state of fear that he could just close the door, hoping he wasn’t the last victim,” the sheriff said. When the shots rang out, the other two hid in a nearby trailer.
Police were called to the property by a survivor at around 03:30 (11:30 GMT) on Monday. They found two bodies on the road and the rest inside the house.
Sheriff Boudreaux said it appeared the child and mother were fleeing the scene, and forensic evidence showed the killer stood over the victims and shot them in the head from above.
The FBI’s San Francisco office is helping with the investigation, and a $10,000 (£8,100) reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Police are monitoring the Mexico-Canada border for suspects, the sheriff said, adding that the “highly secure border” has allowed Mexican drug cartel activity in the Central California region to grow in recent years. Is.
“Let me be very clear, not all of these people in this house were gang members,” Mr. Boudreau said, adding that the mother and child were innocent victims.
He said the killings “appear to be similar to high-level gang executions, and the style of their executions,” because the victims were “shot in places where a shooter knew a quick death would occur.” It will happen”.
The sheriff said hundreds of pieces of evidence have been collected so far, and autopsy results on the victims are expected by Friday.
He also appealed to the public to check CCTV cameras on their property between 03:00 and 05:00 on Monday for videos of suspicious vehicles in the area.
Alyssa Perez’s grandfather told The Associated Press that she was living with the child’s father’s family in Goshen, in central California. Samuel Pina said that the child’s uncle, grandmother and grandmother were also killed.
“I can’t wrap my head around what kind of monster would do that,” he said.
