SAN JUAN - Some San Juan residents are on edge tonight. That's after federal agents discovered bones, weapons, and a shrine to Santa Muerte, the Mexican saint of death.
"That's scary, just plain old scary," says Nydia Trevino.
She watched as ICE and ATF agents removed the items from home on Cougar Street. The house is located near the San Juan shrine.
The entire street was blocked off for several hours. Nobody allowed in or out, as federal agents collected evidence.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS learned they were executing a search warrant and looking for weapons. It's part of an ongoing investigation.
Neighbors nervously watched as agents took automatic weapons out of the home.
"It scares me for all the children in these crowded neighborhoods," says Trevino.
Agents also found a shrine of the Santisima Muerte in the backyard of the home they were searching. Blood and bones were discovered inside two sheds.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS crews saw seven white Santa Muerte candles scattered in the grass nearby. Followers burn them for protection.
"Public needs to be aware of who their neighbors are," says Alberto Munoz. He lives in the area and says he's never seen anything like it.
He tells us, "It better be a wakeup call for everybody, not just anybody, everybody you know."
Munoz and the others hope the criminals are arrested, so they can feel safe in their own homes.
A funeral home arrived late this afternoon to pick up the bones found at the home. Police say that's standard procedure.
They're sending samples to a crime lab to see if they're human or animal.
An ATF spokesman tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS they expect to make several arrests in this case.
We'll keep you updated on the case.
