Seven people were shot to death at an illegal marijuana growing operation in the unincorporated community of Aguanga, 18 miles east of Temecula, and authorities were searching for clues and suspects Tuesday.

Deputies responded at 12:33 a.m. Monday to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in the 45000 block of Highway 371, Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Carroll said.

They found a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at the scene, who was rushed to a hospital but died, Carroll said.

Deputies found six additional shooting victims dead at the scene, he said.

“Evidence located at the scene indicated the location was being used to manufacture and harvest an illicit marijuana operation,” he said. “There was over one thousand pounds of marijuana and several hundred marijuana plants located at the scene.”

The deputies searched the area for a suspect but found no one, he said.

Investigators from the department’s Central Homicide Unit and Hemet Station assumed the investigation.

“This appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the general public,” Carroll said.

Anyone with information about the crime was asked to call 951-955-2777.

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