Port Hueneme Youth Shot to Death

A 15-year-old Port Hueneme boy was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in what witnesses described as a gunfight between rival gang members.

The victim, Cesar Rueney Mata, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest from a small caliber weapon, Deputy County Coroner Craig Stevens said.

A few hours after the shooting, Port Hueneme police arrested two juveniles on suspicion of killing the youth, a Port Hueneme police spokesman said.

The gunfight occurred about 4:15 p.m. in the parking lot in front of the Trade Winds Market in the 800 block of Ventura Road. Witnesses said many people saw the shooting, but were intimidated by threats made by one of the assailants at the scene.

“They told us they were going to kill anyone who talked to the cops,” said one witness who asked not to be identified.