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Police Say Sonoma County Triple Homicide Stemmed From Pot Deal

SONOMA COUNTY (AP) — The fatal shootings of three men whose bodies were found inside a home in rural Northern California stemmed from a botched marijuana deal, authorities said Wednesday.

"At this point in our investigation and evidence collected at the scene, we believe that a marijuana drug deal resulted in the death of the victims," Sonoma County sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary told The Associated Press.

No arrests have been made in the Tuesday killings.

The names of two victims were released in the attack that occurred in a bedroom of a home off Highway 116 near Forestville.

The victims were Raleigh Butler, 26, of Petaluma, and Richard Lewin, 46, of Huntington, N.Y. , authorities said.

The name of the other victim, an acquaintance of Butler, has not yet been released.

The shootings occurred at a home where Butler's mother lived. O'Leary said

Lewin and the unnamed victim flew into town to apparently purchase a large amount of marijuana, O'Leary said.

"The alleged shooter or shooters were delivering the merchandise and somehow along the way three people were shot," O'Leary said.

The triple slaying was discovered in a bedroom by Butler's brother and his girlfriend, who had become concerned after they could not reach Butler by phone for hours, O'Leary said.

No marijuana was grown on the property where the shooting occurred, officials said.

The house is located near the Iron Horse Vineyards and employees have been advised not to go in the area due to the ongoing investigation.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.)

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