Yuba County Man Arraigned on Murder and Other Charges in Fatal Shooting of 10-Year-Old Boy
A Yuba County man has been charged with murder in the recent death of a 10-year-old child who had been struck by gunfire.
In a press release posted to Facebook, the Sheriff’s Office identified 31-year-old Juan Martin Ortiz as the suspect in an incident on the evening of February 5th that resulted in the fatal shooting of a 10-year-old Olivehurst boy.
Deputies responded shortly before 8 PM that night to the 5700 block of Alicia Avenue for a report of shots fired, and located the victim in a residence at the scene with a single gunshot wound. The child was quickly taken to an area hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Ortiz, who is reportedly a known gang member with an extensive criminal history, was arrested the following day.
The Sheriff’s Office reports that “one or more” shots had also been fired at Ortiz and that he’d been struck, describing the incident as a “dispute among families.”
Ortiz had been struck by at least one round, but was able to drive away from the scene as his injuries were not life-threatening, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to a separate press release by the District Attorney’s Office, Ortiz has since been arraigned on charges of murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and being a prohibited person in possession of firearms or ammunition. He is being held without bail.
Ortiz’s next court appearance is scheduled for the morning of February 22.
