Teen in Stable Condition in Wake of Gang Shooting

A 17-year-old Cabrillo Village resident was listed in stable condition Saturday evening after being shot in the back by a rival gang member the night before, Ventura Police Department officials said.

Authorities booked Trevor Gentry, 18, of Ventura into Ventura County Jail on charges of attempted murder. Police said Gentry is a known gang member affiliated with an east Ventura gang.

The shooting victim was not identified because of his age but was described by police as a gang member. According to police, the victim was walking with two friends in Cabrillo Village late Friday when they heard someone shouting a gang name at them.

“They started running, heard gunshots and one was shot,” Detective Jerry Thurston said. “It wasn’t a life-threatening wound.”

At 11:10 p.m., police responded to reports of gunshots in Cabrillo Village but found no victim. While officers were investigating the incident, Ventura County Medical Center officials notified authorities that a gunshot victim had been brought to the hospital in a private car.

Witnesses at Cabrillo Village identified Gentry as the suspect, and he was subsequently arrested at his Ventura home without incident, police said.

Cabrillo Village, a close-knit community, has been plagued with gang problems. Police said they hope the shooting will not trigger further confrontations among rival east Ventura gangs.

“I hope we have a handle on our gang problem and I hope this isn’t a prelude to more gang violence,” Thurston said. “I’m hoping that by making a rapid arrest . . . it will deter people from retaliatory acts.”