PORT HUENEME : 18-Year-Old to Be Arraigned in Slaying

An 18-year-old Port Hueneme man is scheduled to be arraigned today in connection with a gang-related gunfight Sunday afternoon that left a 15-year-old boy dead, authorities said.

Jose Luis Perez and a 15-year-old Oxnard boy were arrested minutes after Cesar Rueney Mata was fatally wounded in front of the Tradewinds Market on North Ventura Road in Port Hueneme, police said.

Perez was shot in the groin during the gunfight and treated at Ventura County Medical Center. He was later transferred to the infirmary at the Ventura County Jail and was being held Monday in lieu of $250,000 bail, sheriff’s deputies said.

Perez is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. today for arraignment. The 15-year-old, whose name was not released because of his age, was being held in Juvenile Hall.

Port Hueneme Sgt. Jerry Beck said investigators are still searching for witnesses to the 4:15 p.m. incident. He said about 30 to 40 people were milling about the busy market, which is across the street from a park, when the shooting occurred. “We know there were a lot of people that saw this and for whatever reason didn’t want to come up to the police,” Beck said.

Authorities say the shooting apparently erupted when three members of a gang confronted two members of a rival gang. Witnesses said they did not hear an argument or gang slogans being shouted before shots were fired.

“They said the three confronted the two, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Then the other group pulled out a gun and fired back,” Beck said.