Authorities Believe Gang Members Were Behind the 2020 Murders of 7 Workers at California Marijuana Farm

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—More than four years after the tragic shooting of seven Laotian workers at an illegal marijuana farm in Southern California, officials announced on Friday that they suspect gang members were responsible for the killings and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Investigators are focusing on suspects of Laotian descent who are believed to be from the San Diego area. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated that the agency faces a significant challenge in gathering information, as many witnesses and victims may have entered the United States illegally and could be victims of human trafficking.

According to Bianco, migrants working at the farm may fear retaliation and have a lack of trust in law enforcement. He noted that many come from countries with corrupt legal systems that further oppress victims.

“When these immigrants arrive in our country, their fear of law enforcement makes them vulnerable to crime because perpetrators know that victims are unlikely to engage with criminal investigations or may choose not to report the crime at all. This case exemplifies that situation,” Bianco remarked.

“We are aware that individuals possess additional information about these murders and the potential identities of the suspects,” he added.

Investigators have pinpointed a mid-size, dark-colored SUV that is thought to have been used during the murders in the remote region of Aguanga, as stated by the sheriff’s department in a press release.

Bianco characterized the murders as part of a “home-invasion style robbery” aimed at stealing money. He also highlighted that a considerable quantity of cannabis remained on the site.

Authorities found six victims deceased at the location, while a woman who was shot there succumbed to her injuries later at a hospital.

Over 20 individuals were residing on the property, which featured makeshift living arrangements and a nursery. More than 1,000 marijuana plants and several hundred pounds of processed marijuana were discovered by officials.

The state legalized recreational marijuana sales broadly in January 2018. However, the illegal market has persisted, partially due to high legal marijuana taxes prompting consumers to seek more affordable options in the black market.

Aguanga is a small mountainous area roughly 50 miles northeast of San Diego, characterized by horse ranches along dirt roads.