In a shocking event in Mojave, a community in California’s Mojave Desert, four young adults were discovered dead from gunshot wounds inside an RV trailer home.
On May 1, authorities announced that the victims were three women and one man, identified as Anna Marie Hester, 34, Darius Travon Canada, 31, Martina Barraza, Jr., 33, all hailing from Mojave, and Faith Leighanne Rose Asbury, 20, from California City.
Although no arrests have been made yet, law enforcement is pursuing specific persons of interest for questioning. This devastating incident contributes to over 22 mass shootings in 2023, surpassing the highest record through the beginning of May since at least 2006. A mass killing database defines a mass shooting as the intentional killing of four or more individuals, not counting the perpetrator.
Kern County deputies responded to an abandoned lot in Mojave around 11:20 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered the four victims, each with gunshot wounds to the head. The Kern County coroner verified that three of the victims died on site, while Asbury passed away from her injuries at the hospital on May 1.
The sheriff’s office indicated that detectives have questioned numerous people and are pursuing all leads to identify and capture those behind the atrocious act.
A long-time local resident informed the media that the town has been grappling with drug addiction issues, and the situation has been deteriorating. “They’re all on crystal meth,” he remarked. “This is all part of drugs, sad to say.”