OXNARD : Owner of Car Shoots Port Hueneme Man

A 28-year-old Oxnard produce wholesaler shot and wounded a man after he interrupted an attempted car burglary outside his residence early Tuesday, police said.

Marlin Simpson told police that he awoke about 4 a.m. to the sounds of his car being broken into.

Simpson grabbed a small handgun, went outside and discovered Joel Ramos, 26, of Port Hueneme, sitting in his 1985 Ford Thunderbird, police said.

Ramos apparently smashed a hole in the windshield of the car and removed the passenger window before entering the car, police said.

Simpson fired two shots in the air and told Ramos to stay in the car, police said.

They said Ramos ignored the warning and left the car with a pipe in hand, walking toward Simpson. Simpson shot Ramos in the leg, police said.

Neighbors notified police, and Ramos was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, where he underwent surgery Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

“I was nervous. What do you do at 4 a.m. when you wake up and find your windows bashed in and someone in your car? It’s not a comfortable feeling,” Simpson said of the shooting.

Oxnard police were still investigating Tuesday.