OXNARD : Boy Injured When Car Chases, Hits Him

A 17-year-old Oxnard boy who threw rocks at a car was chased and struck by the car early Monday morning, police said.

Police were searching for two men in a dark blue, four-door Toyota Camry believed to be involved in the incident, which left the victim, Eric Marceleno, in critical condition with severe head injuries.

Marceleno had been sitting on a curb in the parking lot of an abandoned business when he made eye contact with two men who were driving westbound on Pleasant Valley Road near J Street, police said. The men drove into the parking lot, possibly exchanging words with Marceleno, witnesses told police.

Marceleno then began throwing rocks at the men’s car, police said, and the car chased Marceleno through the parking lot. When Marceleno started crossing Pleasant Valley Road, the men continued pursuing him, struck him with the car and fled, authorities said.

Witnesses described the car as having front-end damage and a broken rear windshield.

Oxnard police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to call Detective Mike Palmieri at 385-7688, or Detective Doug Wiley at 385-7604.