January 12, 2021 – Ventura County, Ca.
Once again lending credence to the adage “you can run but you can’t hide,” two documented Ventura County gang members suspected in the December 27th shooting of two male victims have been apprehended and charged with assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and attempted murder.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Steve michalec, the case erupted in the early evening on December 27th when Camarillo Police Department units responded to a 911 Emergency call reporting a shooting on a residential street.
Upon arrival at the scene, deputies discovered two men “who had been shot by unknown suspects,” one of whom had been shot while seated behind the wheel of his car. The second victim had been shot multiple times while attempted to alight from the vehicle to escape the gunfire.
The immediately ensuing investigation brought 27-year-old Jose Adrian Rivera and 22-year-old Juan David Cervantes to the attention of detectives as principal suspects in the shooting “motivated by gang association.”
Two days later, on December 29th , detectives located and made contact with Rivera. He was taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail, initially charged only with violation of his Post-Release Community Supervision terms.
Another two days passed while detectives worked to locate Cervantes. On December 31st , Cervantes as discovered “on a bus bound for Tijuana, Mexico,” and was summarily nabbed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents.
He was then given a free ride back to Ventura County Jail, where he was also booked on violation of his probation terms.
Additional evidence of Cervantes’ and Rivera’s involvement in the shooting was developed, and on January 8th , both men were booked on charges of attempted murder and multiple weapons charges with gang enhancements alleged. Both men remain in custody, with Rivera’s bail set at $1,000,000, and Cervantes’ bail set at $2,000,000.
