On January 23, 2024, 34-year-old Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran of Adelanto, California, was found deceased alongside five other men in a remote desert area near Lessing Avenue and Shadow Mountain Road in unincorporated Adelanto. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call made by one of the victims, 22-year-old Franklin Noel Bonilla, who reported being shot but was unable to provide his exact location.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered five bodies at the scene, with a sixth located nearby shortly thereafter. All six victims had sustained gunshot wounds, and four were partially burned.
The victims were identified as:
- **Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran**, 34, of Adelanto
- **Franklin Noel Bonilla**, 22, of Hesperia
- **Kevin Dariel Bonilla**, 25, of Hesperia
- **Jose Ruelas-Calderon**, 45, of El Mirage
- **Narcisco Sandoval**, 47
- **Adrian Ochoa-Salgado**, 41
Investigations revealed that the victims had arranged to meet at the location for a marijuana transaction. During the meeting, five suspects arrived and, for reasons still under investigation, fatally shot the six men. The suspects were identified as:
- **Toniel Baez-Duarte**, 34, of Apple Valley
- **Mateo Baez-Duarte**, 24, of Apple Valley
- **Jose Nicolas Hernandez-Sarabia**, 33, of Adelanto
- **Jose Gregorio Hernandez-Sarabia**, 34, of Adelanto
- **Jose Manuel Burgos Parra**, 26, of Adelanto
On January 28, 2024, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants in the High Desert cities of Apple Valley, Adelanto, and Pinon Hills, leading to the arrest of the five suspects. They were each charged with six felony counts of murder, with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, and six felony counts of robbery. Additionally, several of the suspects faced special allegations of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. All suspects were held without bail.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson commented on the case, stating, "This mass murder, done in a dark secluded desert, clearly illuminates the violence and crime that exists as a direct consequence of illegal marijuana operations." He commended the Sheriff's investigative team for their rapid and thorough work and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murders is ongoing. Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident is related to cross-border drug trade activities, stating, "We can't comment on if this is cartel-related or not." The area where the murders occurred is known for illicit marijuana activities, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus.
