Party Guest Sought for Questioning in Robbery : Ojai: Police believe that a man invited to the New Year’s Eve gathering knew two intruders who forced their way inside. One was fatally shot.

One of three men suspected in an armed robbery that turned a New Year’s Eve celebration into a bloody melee had been invited to the Ojai party, authorities said Wednesday.

Ventura County sheriff’s detectives said they were still searching for 24-year-old Timothy Antonelli, hoping to question him about his suspected role in helping to set up the robbery, which was foiled when party-goers turned on the intruders, one of whom was fatally shot.

They also said drugs may have been used during the all-night party, but discounted the possibility that the robbery attempt may have been linked to drug activity and said there was no evidence of any large quantity of drugs at the party.

Ron Brown, 22, of Ventura died of two gunshot wounds to the abdomen at 6:41 a.m. Tuesday during the fight at the house in the 700 block of Park Road, the Ventura County coroner’s office said.

A second suspect, Frank Stoddard, 28, of Ventura, was in fair condition Wednesday at Ventura County Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the groin. He was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery, murder and assault with a deadly weapon, Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Harwell said.

Authorities said both Brown and Stoddard have previous criminal records.

Three party guests were also hospitalized with injuries.

August Howard, 36, of Ojai was listed in stable condition at Ventura County Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the eye, hospital officials said. John Schommer, 37, was treated for a gunshot wound to the foot and released from Ojai Valley Community Hospital, officials said. The host of the party, Paul Scott Blair, 41, was released Wednesday from Ojai Valley Hospital with a bite wound on his hand.

Harwell said investigators were still sorting out the stories of the 11 people who were in the house when intruders forced their way in about 6:30 a.m.

Harwell said Antonelli, an invited guest, came to the door and as people at the party greeted him, two armed intruders in ski masks burst into the house. Based on additional information they have gathered, detectives believe that Antonelli knew the gunmen, Harwell said.

However, Antonelli apparently was unarmed, Harwell said, and when the armed men ordered the seven people in the living room to lie down, Antonelli also stretched out on the floor.

The gunmen ordered guests to give up their wallets and valuables. Some witnesses told authorities that the men also asked for drugs, Harwell said. One of the armed men struck a couple of guests as they lay on the floor, he said.

Apparently believing that they were not getting enough money from the group, the intruders then grabbed a woman and began kicking and beating her, Harwell said. A couple of men at the party got up from the floor and began struggling with the intruders, he said.

In the ensuing confusion, party-goers got control of the robbers’ weapons and the intruders and guests were shot, Harwell said.

A guest who had been using the restroom managed to make a 911 call and alert authorities, Harwell said.

Several wallets were scattered outside the house. Two plastic bags of white crystalline powder were discarded across the street from the house. Authorities have not determined whose they were, Harwell said. Antonelli was gone.

Harwell said investigators are puzzled about the motive for the robbery because the party-goers are not affluent.

Blair said Antonelli telephoned his house about 3:30 a.m. saying that a mutual friend wanted to join the party and that he would drive her there. Blair said the friend had introduced him to Antonelli about a month ago.

Blair said he then went to bed and was later awakened when an assailant grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him out of bed.

He said his girlfriend told him that she answered the door when Antonelli arrived. As she gave him a hug and wished him a happy new year, the gunmen pushed their way into the house, Blair said.

Blair said he was not going to stay in his house for a while or let anyone know where he was living. Indeed, Blair said he is tempted to never have friends over again.

“I don’t think I’d invite anybody over,” Blair said. “I’m going back to leading a quiet life.”