VENTURA : Motorist Shot While Waiting at Stop Sign
A 32-year-old Ventura man was critically wounded by a gunman who walked up and shot him while he was waiting at a stop sign in his minivan, police said Wednesday.
Johnny Edward Rios was in critical condition at Ventura County Medical Center on Wednesday, a nursing supervisor said. He suffered at least one gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Rios was driving the minivan belonging to his family’s janitorial service north on Callens Road about 11 p.m. Tuesday when he braked for a stop sign at Market Street, Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Anderson said.
While Rios was stopped, a man wearing dark clothing and a ski mask walked across the street in front of the van and suddenly pulled out a handgun and began firing at Rios and a co-worker, Anderson said.
“We haven’t discovered a reason why, at this point,” Anderson said.
The gunman fled as the wounded Rios drove across the intersection. He crashed the van into a bus bench and mailbox, Anderson said.
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