3 homeless shot to death near Lancaster, and person of interest is now in custody

Authorities located the 32-year-old man sought in connection with the killings of three homeless people who were found shot in a vacant lot in an unincorporated desert area south of Lancaster.

Deputies from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station responded around 4:48 p.m. Sunday at 215th Street East and East Palmdale Boulevard in Lake Los Angeles regarding a report of gunshots, officials said.

The call was upgraded to multiple gunshot victims at the location and when deputies arrived at the scene, they found the three victims seated in two vehicles suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, said sheriff’s homicide detective Lt. Steven De Jong.

All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.

Investigators on Tuesday identified Axel Trevino as a person of interest in the case, although no details were provided about his possible connection to the victims.

He was located later that day and taken into custody.

The dead were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Juan Arteaga Diaz, 44; Nazario Ramirez, 54; and Beverly Cassese, 65.

News video from the scene of the killings showed a white sedan with bullet holes in the driver’s side window and a red SUV in front of a white trailer. All the vehicles were in a vacant lot strewn with tires near what appeared to be a storage lot for commercial trailers.

Anyone with information regarding the shootings was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

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