Detectives arrest man accused of homicide after three Lodi residents found dead in home

San Joaquin County investigators on Saturday arrested a man accused of killing two people and their adult son who were found dead with gunshot wounds three months ago at a Lodi home.

Detectives arrested 25-year-old Steven Guerrero Jr. on suspicion of homicide — three counts — and burglary, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office .

Joe Pena, 60, Kim Huynh, 69, and their son Alfred Nguyen, 45, were killed in the shooting, said Heather Brent, a sheriff’s spokeswoman, confirmed on Monday afternoon.

The bodies of the three victims were found about 6:30 p.m. on June 8 at the home in the 1500 block of East Mettler Road, an unincorporated area of Lodi.

Sheriff’s officials said concerned family members reported they had not been able to reach the residents at the home for more than a week. Deputies arrived and found the three adult residents dead, each with fatal gunshot wounds.

“The (homicide) investigation immediately led our detectives to believe that it was a targeted incident, and they had evidence leading them to a suspect,” sheriff’s officials said Monday in a Facebook post.

At a news conference Monday, Sheriff Patrick Withrow said detectives collected evidence that showed the shooting deaths were not a random crime but “a targeted act of violence” by someone who knew the family. He said it’s possible the victims were killed days before their bodies were found.

During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office did not inform the public the three residents had been killed in a shooting nor did detectives announce they were looking for a suspect. Sheriff’s officials said on Monday they made the decision to not release information for fear it would jeopardize the “integrity of the investigation.”

The sheriff and San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas declined to reveal any further details about the homicide investigation, including how the suspect knew the victims or any suspected motives behind the deaths. Withrow said evidence gathered in the investigation did show a burglary had occurred.