Human trafficking may be behind I.E. shooting
Friday, March 12, 2010

By Amy Powell

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation is under way on Friday morning into a deadly shooting in the Inland Empire that left two people dead and another injured. Authorities say the shooting may be related to human trafficking.

Moreno Valley police found two shooting victims inside a house on the 21000 block of Bay Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities believe the house was used to hide illegal immigrants.

One man was declared dead at the scene, while a second man was taken to a local hospital, where he died a short time later. The third victim somehow made his way to a cell phone store more than a mile away after being shot several times. He was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive.

According to the Press Enterprise, the third victim told people at the store that he was from Puebla, Mexico. He told them he had been brought into the U.S. with 10 other people by smugglers, known as coyotes.

The man reportedly said the coyotes were demanding more money, nearly $4,000 from him or his family members, causing a fight that ended with the deadly shooting.


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The names of the victims have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Authorities are still looking for the gunmen. Federal immigration agents have been assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with any information is urged to call police at (951) 955-2777.

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