Ventura County – The City of Oxnard—where no less than four shooting homicides have taken place in a year just four months old—has challenges in conveying to its youthful population the dire consequences of criminal activity involving firearms.
Evidence of that came once again late in the morning of April 29th, when a 17-year old male was arrested following a 911 Emergency call reporting gunfire on a residential street. According to Oxnard Police Department spokesman Sgt. Alex Arnett, officers responding to the Cloyne Street scene found “a 21-year old Oxnard resident with a gunshot wound to his lower left leg.”
The victim was immediately transported to Ventura County Medical Center in serious but stable condition, while the OPD Violent Crimes Unit went into action to investigate the incident. Pursuant to a series of witness interviews, and based upon their established knowledge of “street politics”, the principal suspect was identified as residing nearby.
Four hours later, with search warrant in hand, the Special Enforcement Unit and Violent Crimes Unit personnel made contact with the suspect, whom they considered armed and dangerous, at his residence. Clearly outnumbered and reacting to the overwhelming law enforcement display of force, the suspect surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.
He was transported to the Oxnard Police Department, where, pursuant to further investigation, the juvenile was subsequently booked into Ventura County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Pursuant to California’s Welfare and Institution Code §827 regarding the confidentiality of juvenile arrest records, the identity of the shooting suspect is currently unavailable to the public.
