OXNARD : 5 Held Over Drive-By Shooting of Boy, 16

Oxnard police arrested five people in connection with a drive-by gang shooting when the suspects allegedly returned to the scene while officers were investigating the attack, authorities said Sunday. The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was shot in the arm and is in fair condition at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Sgt. Jeff Young said. Police withheld the name of the victim.

Officers had received information that a white Buick had passed the 900 block of Cedar Court on Saturday night, and the driver and passengers in the car had yelled gang slogans at a group of possible gang members before firing at them, Young said.

Police were in the area investigating the incident about 10:45 p.m. when a white Buick drove by and began shooting at houses on the same block. As the car fled the area, it was spotted by an officer, Young said. The car was pulled over at the intersection of Doris Avenue and Ventura Road, and a small caliber handgun was found in the vehicle, Young said. Witnesses identified the car and the people in it as being involved in the two shooting incidents, Young said.

Five people were arrested, including two youths whose names were not released because of their ages.

“They appear to be rival gangs,” Young said. “That’s what usually causes these type of things.”

Oxnard residents Cynthia Castro and Francisco Ramirez, both 18, are being held on suspicion of attempted murder, criminal conspiracy and shooting at an occupied dwelling. Jose Antonio Campos, 20, of Oxnard is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied dwelling and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Castro, Ramirez and Campos are being held at Ventura County Jail with bail set at $250,000 each. They are scheduled to be arraigned today.