5 Hospitalized After Fight Erupts at Party

Five Ventura residents were hospitalized Saturday following a rumble that erupted after a group crashed a house party.

Police said Tim Cass, 23, was the most seriously injured and was listed in critical condition at Ventura County Medical Center after suffering a head wound.

Authorities arrested Matt Voegele, 20, who was one of the hosts of the party in the 200 block of Dana Point Avenue when the fight broke out about 11:40 p.m. Friday.

Police said the scuffle began when two people associated with a gang showed up at a party attended by three others associated with a rival gang. The new arrivals began smashing car and house windows at the Dana Point Avenue address, police said.

According to police, a series of fights ensued on the front lawn of the property and on the street.

During the melee, a 17-year-old male was stabbed in the arm and underwent surgery Saturday at Community Memorial Hospital. Another 17-year-old male and Rachel La Rochelle, 18, both suffered head injuries after being struck with a crowbar. Both were treated at local hospitals and released.

Scott Wilcox, 19, was stabbed in the chest, suffered a punctured lung and was hospitalized at Ventura County Medical Center.

All of the victims were taken to either Ventura County Medical Center or Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

The incident is still under investigation with more arrests expected, police say.

In a separate incident, a Ventura caller reported hearing about 10 gunshots near the intersection of Saratoga Street and Telephone Road about 7:40 p.m. Friday, police said. Police said the caller reported seeing more than 10 people--some with guns and baseball bats--loitering near a vehicle in that area.

But when officers arrived at the scene, the alleged gunman or gunmen fled the area on foot, police said. Officers made no arrests.