Seven suspects in a Grass Valley homicide were arrested at a Davis hotel earlier this week.
According to a news release issued Wednesday by the Grass Valley Police Department, the fatality stemmed from a marijuana transaction that occurred Saturday night, discovered when officers spotted a speeding vehicle that eventually stopped at a hospital.
Inside, a female passenger had suffered a gunshot wound to the head that, according to the Grass Valley Union newspaper, has left the 36-year-old woman on life support and with no brain activity, leading to the murder charge.
“In questioning the male driver, officers learned that several individuals had come from out of the area to purchase marijuana,” the exchange occurring along a rural road east of town, the news release said. “At some point during the transaction, it became apparent that the suspects were using fake money to purchase the marijuana.”
A dispute ensued, leading to a vehicle pursuit as the suspects tried to flee with the drugs, police said. As the chase approached central Grass Valley, “one of the suspects fired multiple shots at the pursuing vehicle,” one of the bullets striking the victim.
Over the next two days, investigators were able to identify the suspects’ vehicles and track them to the newly built Residence Inn by Marriott near Second Street and Mace Boulevard, taking all seven into custody Tuesday on charges including murder, conspiracy and grand theft, police said.
“We were watching (the hotel) and waiting for the right opportunity, and it presented itself Tuesday afternoon,” Grass Valley police Capt. Steve Johnson told The Union. “They were completely unaware we were watching them, their guard was down. … They didn’t have a chance to react before they were detained.”
During what was described as a “multi-room raid” at the hotel, officers reported seizing a semiautomatic pistol, 30 pounds of processed marijuana and a “large stockpile” of fake currency. Davis police assisted in the search.
The suspects were identified as William Levise, 31, Trey Richard, 22, Ronney Turner, 31, Juan McHenry, 31, Devon Jennings, 21, and Laderrick Wynn, 20, all of Dallas, Texas; and Dakari Harris, 22, of Shreveport, La. Police booked them into the Nevada County Jail.
Why the group came to the Davis area was not immediately clear. Three other people also occupied the hotel rooms but ultimately were released after police determined they did not have a close connection to the alleged crime, The Union reported.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene