2nd man dies in Sonoma Co. double homicide at pot grow house

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KTVU) - A second man has died, leaving just one survivor, of a marijuana-related shooting in Sonoma County.

The second victim is identified as 28 year old John Jesse Mariana of Guerneville.

Mariana had been on life support since the shooting Saturday night at an established growing operation west of Santa Rosa, along Highway 116 leading to Sebastopol.

"The working theory right now is it had something to do with marijuana sales that went bad," Sonoma County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum told KTVU, "and since this is a targeted crime, they're not considered dangerous to the general public."

Sunday, as investigators processed the scene, they seized both growing plants and processed marijuana.

The property belonged to 36 year old Nathan Proto.

He was found shot to death in one of two houses on the seven acre site.    

"There's no video security on the property, and there's no evidence of a break-in," elaborated Crum, "and since we don't know who the suspects are right now, we don't know the relationships between them".

The lone survivor, a 23 year old woman, managed to call 9-1-1- after she was shot several times.

"Three friends, all shot. The suspect has left and no further description at this point," a dispatcher is heard saying about 8:15 pm.

Investigators are sifting through leads, calling some of them "promising".

To protect the case, they are saying almost nothing about suspects, motive, or the scope o the grow operation.  

"Whether it's legal or illegal, it is a cash crop, and it is expensive," acknowledged Crum.

Tuesday evening, the site appeared abandoned, but for the gardening supplies and a cat wandering in the yard.

Wood and chain link fences surround the home and gardens but gates hang open and the large containers that held mature plants, are stripped clean.

A single bouquet was left on the windshield of a victim's car in the driveway.  

"There's a lot of money involved in the this trade," observed Crum, "and it's very commonplace for violent crime to occur where people are growing marijuana."

The young woman who was wounded remains in intensive care at Memorial Hospital.

Her mother has told the Press Democrat that her daughter is expected to survive multiple head wounds.

The Sheriff's Department is looking or any tips that might bring the shooter or shooters to justice.