Sheriff Bianco discusses the killing of 7 people in Aguanga shootout

The Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco held a news conference to update the public on the investigation into the killing of seven people at an illegal marijuana cultivation facility in Aguanga early Monday morning.

Full News Conference Below:

The incident was reported at 12:33 a.m. at a home along the 45000 block of Highway 371, west of Anza.

Deputies first responded to a report of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon. When they arrived they found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Paramedics arrived to provide treatment for the woman. Deputies then found an additional six victims with gunshot wounds as well.

The woman later died at a hospital while the other six victims died at the scene.

The seven victims, none of whom have been identified, apparently were Laotian nationals who were among more than 20 individuals residing at the property, according to Bianco

According to the Sheriff's Departement, evidence found at the scene indicated the location was being used to manufacture and harvest an illicit marijuana operation. Over one-thousand pounds of marijuana and several hundred marijuana plants were located at the scene.

"It was a very large illegal marijuana grow," Bianco said."There are multiple makeshift buildings. We located over 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana valued between $1 million to upwards of $5 million. They had a nursery type place for growing the plants, a place to dry the plants and places to process the plants."

A suspect search of the area came up empty. Investigators said they are currently working on leads, and the investigation is ongoing. The most telling aspect was that a number of vehicles found at the property were registered outside California, the sheriff said.

The property was evidently under lease.

The exact motive for the killings was unclear. No suspects have been identified.

Bianco said the FBI and other federal agencies have been requested to assist because evidence indicates the cultivation operation had connections in other states. The most telling aspect was that a number of vehicles found at the property were registered outside California, the sheriff said.

Bianco said there does not appear to be a "threat to the general public"' in connection with the killings.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.