Paramount : 3 Victims of Drug-Related Shooting Case Identified

Three men found dead inside a house Feb. 21 in a drug-related shooting have been identified by sheriff’s homicide detectives.

The shooting occurred at a residence in the 15000 block of San Jose Avenue in Paramount “after some type of narcotic transaction went bad,” Sheriff’s Lt. Frank Merriman said.

The victims were identified as Solticio Martinez, 43, Juan Parra-Gomez, 28, and Everardo Cervantes, 28. All were from Mexico.

A 32-year-old man was arrested shortly after the shooting when he sought treatment at a nearby hospital for a minor gunshot wound to the shoulder, Merriman said. The man, who was identified as Abelino Manriquez, was taken into custody on a warrant for another unrelated murder, but no charges have been filed against him in connection with the San Jose Avenue killings, Merriman said.

Deputies found a substance wrapped in plastic tape that appeared to be cocaine. However, the material is not cocaine, nor is it illegal, Merriman said. He said deputies will not reveal what the substance is at this time, because it would hamper their investigation. Deputies also found two handguns at the scene.