LOS ANGELES, Jan 30, 2024 (BSS/) - California police investigating the slaying of six people whose bodies were found in the desert have made their first arrests, they said Monday.

The corpses -- all of which reportedly had gunshot wounds and some of which had been burned -- were discovered on a dirt road around 50 miles (80 kilometers) outside Los Angeles by deputies.

No attempt had seemingly been made to hide them.

The officers, who had been responding to a request for a wellness check, initially discovered five bodies, along with a lot of bullet casings.

A sixth body was found the following morning as detectives combed the grisly scene in the remote area.

News footage showed one vehicle at the scene riddled with bullet holes.

Cardboard, tires and broken bottles were also found at the scene, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Police in San Bernardino County have been cagey about the details surrounding the case, and on Monday would only say that arrests had been made.

Officials have so far released no information about the identity of the dead.

Pockets of Southern California are plagued by gang violence, including from Mexican drug cartels vying for control of the lucrative market north of the border.

But at present there is no hint that the killings were connected to the ultra-violent gangs.

"If this were linked to cartels, as in international criminal organization operations in the US, then almost certainly the FBI and Homeland Security would be involved," Peter Hanink, a professor of sociology and criminology at Cal Poly Pomona told the LA Times.

"If drug cartels were suspects, presumably the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] would be involved."

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department was due to hold a news conference later Monday.