Man Charged With Murder in Death of Black Youth at Party in Ventura

A Ventura man who prosecutors believe is a member of a predominantly Latino gang was charged Monday with murdering a black teen-ager at a party Feb. 28.

Stanislado Gomez, 25, pleaded not guilty in Ventura County Municipal Court in the slaying of Timothy Moss, 17, of Oxnard.

Gomez’s attorney, Willard P. Wiksell, said there was “nothing racial at all” about the slaying and called it “a clear-cut case of self-defense.”

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Saundra T. Brewer said investigators believe that Gomez is a member of the Ventura Avenue Gangsters who also associates with skinheads, and that racial animosity played a role in the killing.

“At this stage, I don’t think I can prove that was the only motive,” Brewer said. “I think it had something to do with the murder, yes. In other words, I don’t believe anyone we’ve got in custody likes black people.”

Two other men suspected of being involved in the slaying are in custody and more arrests are possible, Brewer said.

The slaying occurred at a house on Comanche Court, in the Ventura Avenue area. As many as 80 people were attending a party when Moss showed up with some friends about 9:30 p.m., investigators said.

A guest at the party--Ethan Boyle, 22, of Ventura--made derogatory remarks about blacks in Moss’ presence and displayed some knives, Ventura police said. Moss told friends that he had a gun and would use it, police said.

Later, when Moss left the house through the front door, Boyle was outside and fired shots, police said. Brewer said investigators believe that Moss fired a shot in response to the gunfire. No one was hurt in the exchange.

Moss then ran through the house, apparently in an attempt to escape by another exit, Brewer said. In the kitchen, he encountered Gomez, who shot and killed him, Brewer said.

A medical examiner’s investigator said Moss was shot in the head and heart. Brewer said she could not disclose how many bullets struck the victim.

Defense attorney Wiksell said Gomez grabbed a gun from another party guest after hearing the gunfire outside.

“Mr. Moss bragged about the weapon that he took to the party and threatened to use it and did in fact use it,” Wiksell said. “He raced inside the house after a gunfight.” As Moss ran through the kitchen he turned on Gomez, Wiksell said, and Gomez shot him.

Gomez is “not a skinhead and he’s not a white supremacist,” Wiksell said. He said the defendant is “part Indian and part Mexican and has a nephew who is black.”

“If he had wanted to shoot black people, there were six others he could have fired at.”

He said prosecutors would not have filed the case “if it did not have gang overtones,” although he said his client is not a gang member.

“If this had happened in Westlake and Mr. Gomez was named Mr. Johnson . . . this case would not have been filed,” Wiksell said.

A friend of Gomez, who said he was in the kitchen when the shooting occurred, said there was no racial aspect to the slaying.

“The only people who made this a racial thing were the police and the media,” said the friend, who asked not to be identified. In an interview after Gomez’s arraignment, the dark-skinned Latino man said: “We are obviously not skinheads.”

He said Gomez had armed himself after hearing about 10 shots fired outside. “The house was a madhouse because Moss had just run through with a gun in his hand,” Gomez’s friend said. “Nobody knew what his intentions were.”

When Moss ran into the kitchen, the friend said, “it looked like he was going to draw on Stan. Stan did what he had to do. . . . Stan couldn’t choose the color of the guy who was carrying a gun and running through a party and apparently had just fired 10 rounds.”

Wiksell said Gomez made no attempt to flee after the shooting. “He yelled, ‘Call 911,’ ” the attorney said.

Gomez is being held at Ventura County Jail on $250,000 bail. Municipal Judge John R. Smiley scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 14.

Boyle, who police say fired shots outside the house, is being held on $10,000 bail on charges of violating probation stemming from prior misdemeanor cases. Brewer said prosecutors have not decided whether to charge him in connection with Moss’ slaying.

Alonzo Rangel, 22, of Ventura has been charged with being an accessory to murder and is being held on $500,000 bail. Brewer said she could not discuss Rangel’s role in the case. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.