OXNARD : 4 Teen-Agers Held in Youth’s Stabbing

A teen-age stabbing victim was hospitalized in critical condition and four other teen-agers were under arrest Friday in connection with a gang-related fight in Oxnard, authorities said.

Two of the youths, both age 16 and from Oxnard, were arrested late Wednesday, shortly after the gang confrontation on Devonshire Drive and Ventura Road that led to the stabbing, police said. Their names were not released because of their ages.

Two additional suspects, a 17-year-old youth and Luis Tapia, 18, both of Oxnard, were arrested Thursday after a witness identified them through police photographs, police said.

The victim, Rancy Dillon, 16, of Oxnard was among a gang of 10 to 20 people who fled after the rival gangs exchanged signs, Detective Ron Whitney said.

“For some unknown reason, they honed in on him,” Whitney said.

According to witnesses, Dillon was stabbed repeatedly by the four teen-agers. The four fled after Dillon’s friends ran to help him, Whitney said.

Dillon was in critical condition Friday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, officials said.

Tapia was being held at Ventura County Jail on $250,000 bail for attempted murder. He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

The other three teen-agers will be held at Juvenile Hall pending a court hearing.