Man Barricades Himself in Ventura House

Ventura police converged on a house on the 1200 block of East Main Street late Sunday, responding to a call of shots fired, and discovered an armed man barricaded inside, authorities said.

Arriving officers were told by witnesses that a man inside the home possessed a shotgun and a 9-millimeter handgun and may have barricaded himself following a dispute with his girlfriend that ended with him taking a shot at one of his girlfriend’s female friends.

The man’s identity was not immediately available.

Officers got the first emergency call around 9:05 p.m. when a neighbor arriving home heard one gunshot followed by the sound of a shotgun being cocked. The neighbor, who refused to be identified, said the man was a commercial painter.

Ventura Police Officer Juan Reynoso said the incident apparently started as a domestic dispute between the man, his girlfriend and two of her female friends. Reynoso said the man is believed to have fired one round at one of his girlfriend’s friends, but apparently missed. No injuries were reported. Reynoso said the man is believed to possess more weapons.

The girlfriend and her friends escaped from the house unharmed.