El Mirage, California – A grim discovery was made in a remote area of San Bernardino County on Tuesday night, as six bodies were found near a bullet-riddled SUV. The San Bernardino County Fire Department responded to a reported shooting but was ultimately canceled before arrival. The Sheriff’s Department had dispatched deputies to the scene off Highway 395 for a wellness check and found five bodies initially, with the sixth being discovered the following morning.
While the Sheriff’s Department has not confirmed the cause of death for the victims, the situation is being investigated as a homicide. The crime scene, located a quarter-mile west of Shadow Mountain Road, featured two vehicles, including a blue Chevrolet Blazer SUV with shattered windows and bullet holes. The area, with well-groomed dirt roads and sagebrush up to 6 feet high, was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape and evidence markers.
With no official announcement regarding the ages and genders of the victims or the exact location of where they were found, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The investigation is being handled by Sheriff’s homicide investigators and forensic technicians, with the crime scene situated about three miles west of Highway 395.
The desolate area where the bodies were found, near the Shadow Mountain ghost town and the Silver Lakes Country Club, poses a stark contrast to the nearby communities. With the closest significant population in Helendale, about 12 miles to the east, and the nearest city of Victorville approximately 26 miles southeast, the remote location of the crime scene adds to the mystery surrounding the tragic events.
As detectives continue to piece together the details of the case, they are asking for the public’s assistance in providing any information that may aid in solving the crime. Those with information are encouraged to contact the authorities or submit tips anonymously through WeTip. The community is left reeling as the investigation unfolds, shedding light on the somber reality of violence in this otherwise quiet corner of California.