As we told you at the top of the news - the old year ended with a frightening spree of violence. And while the mass shooting was the most stunning event, the most tragic was the double murder in Pomona Village on the Hummingbird Highway.
At around 11:15pm, only 45 minutes before the new year, 23 Year Old Yuri "Luke" Chavarria and Zion Samuel met their demise. Jaleeza Roberts takes a deeper look:
Candles are lit and friends and family mourn on the veranda where 23 year old Yuri Chavarria and Zion Samuels saw their death. They were gunned down in what appears to be a targeted attack led by gunmen on motorcycle. But, they were not the intended targets. Police explained that this location has been known for drug operations.
Reporter
"As police, we have, police been able to determine a motive in this incident. Was it a random act? An incident that preceded what occurred?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"No motive has been established. However, we do know that the property where the incident occurred is one that police have launched several operations in relation to drugs."
Jules Vasquez
"So would you say it is drug related?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"I am stating that the residence where the incident occurred is one that the police had visited before in relation to anti-drug operations."
The families of both men declined to comment on the issue, but at the scene of the crime, we found their friends and family gathered there mourning the young lives.
Gregory Hernandez, Friend of the Deceased
"It's two young innocent lives they took away. from the face of this earth to barber where you can go and get a free trim and they won't tell you anything they just some young guys and Zion left a little girl out there and he's gone and that is what I know I tremble because I feel the death of those two guys, Luke and Zion. They are not troubled people. They don't mess around like that. They only smoke a little marijuana. They don't drink. And there are some cool little guys. You can come beg for a little trim that Zion will trim you free. You dig? And why they did it, I don't know. So I tremble and all because there's my friend, real friend, check. Younger guys, but I don't know why they took their life away so innocently. 22 years of age, both of them. Man, they have a lot. I'm 40. They have a lot in front of them."
The double murder is part of an emerging pattern in the south: separate incidents with a common factor:
Jules Vasquez
"With this particular crime, you know, is it, is is there I understand you - We have the event in Independence Village the previous week in this, I know this one in Pomona. All of them have a common thread of this suggestion, the suggestion of being drug related. Is there an increased activity of, increased narco activity in the South, or is it just the usual jostling for turf among rival gangs?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"I would not be able to say that. Mr. Vasquez, as I said, the investigation into these incidents are ongoing."
For now, the families are left to bury their sons without any real answers. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
The main suspect has been detained pending charges.
