Calif. DA's son charged with murder in triple homicide

MERCED, Calif. - The son of a Northern California district attorney has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a triple homicide at an Easter party last year.

The Merced Sun-Star reports 18-year-old Ethan Morse was arrested Friday outside his Merced home and is being held without bail at Mariposa County Jail. The California Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.

Morse is the son of Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday from the Associated Press.

The younger Morse is the fourth person charged with murder in connection with the deadly holiday party on March 30, 2013 near Atwater. Three suspected gang members were arrested last week for the same incident.

Sixteen-year-old Samantha Parreira, 18-year-old Bernabed Hernandez-Canela and 19-year-old Matthew Fisher were shot and killed in the incident.

According to the Sun-Star, as of Saturday there were no documents accusing Ethan Morse of any street-gang involvement or of personally using a firearm. His alleged role in the triple homicide is still under investigation.

Investigators believe the party was an Easter celebration for high school students that got out of hand, attracting over 100 people, including members of several rival Merced County street gangs, the paper reports.

Ethan Morse graduated high school last month.