Eight Arrested in Police, SWAT Operation in Beaumont Murder Investigation: UPDATED

BEAUMONT, CA – Law enforcement officers converged in several neighborhoods across the Pass Area early Thursday morning as they followed-up in the investigation to a murder that happened earlier this month — arresting a total of eight people in the operation.

According to the Beaumont Police Department, a series of search warrants were served at approximately 10 locations in Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, San Jacinto and Yucaipa beginning at 4 a.m. in connection to the March 4 deadly shooting of 21-year-old Jasmine Zuniga. Witnesses tell Patch they spotted SWAT teams in the area in the predawn hours.

Details on the investigation are still limited at this time, but we now know the names of those arrested. We also have been told that of the eight, four are allegedly tied to the murder of Zuniga.

Patch spotted one person being taken away in handcuffs on Thursday around 10 a.m. on Palm Avenue. Police tell Patch that this person was not one of the primary targets in the operation.

SEE ALSO: Young Woman Shot Dead In Beaumont, ID'd as Banning Resident

The arrested in connection with the murder were identified by police as:

• Samuel Jesus Acosta, 32, of Banning: Charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and various weapons and gang enhancements
• Mathew Ray Zues Munoz, 25, of Beaumont: Charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and various weapons and gang enhancements
• Erika Cristell Garcia, 25, of Banning: Charge of attempted murder and gang and weapons enhancements
• Francisca Perla Acosta, 34, of Banning: Charge of accessory to murder and a gang enhancement

The others arrested included Abel Eddie Martinez, 68, of Beaumont for an alleged weapons violation along with two unidentified suspects "... for other unrelated warrants," police said. One other unidentified person was arrested, but later released, pending further investigation, according to BPD.

"All arrestees were booked at Smith Correctional Facility in Banning; Acosta and Munoz were booked without bail," police said.

Beaumont police say they were assisted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Corona Police Department, Murrieta Police Department, Hemet Police Department, Desert Regional S.W.A.T, San Gorgonio Gang Task Force (GTF), Post Release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT) and the Moreno Valley Police Department Street Enforcement Team.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call Detective Sergeant Galletta at 951-769-8500. Residents can also provide information anonymously at crimetips@beaumontpd.org.

Patch photos by Renee Schiavone