Gang Violence Under Control, Police Say

Despite a list of shooting victims that has grown to nine in the last week, police on Monday insisted that area gang violence is not escalating out of control.

Even in the wake of an incident Sunday night that left five males wounded in Port Hueneme, officials say there are fewer gang-related incidents this year than during the same period last year.

“I would say that if anything, there is a de-escalation,” said Sgt. Gary Chennault, a member of the Oxnard anti-gang Street Crime Unit. There are about 15 youth gangs operating in Oxnard, officials say, and their activities often cross borders into neighboring towns.

At least two people have been killed in Oxnard in gang-related shootings this year, and police suspect gang involvement in a handful of other shootings--including five more deaths. But one statistic, police say, shows that gang violence is actually diminishing: Only 10 gang-related assaults have been reported in Oxnard this year, compared to 33 over the same period last year.

Sunday’s was the third shooting in Port Hueneme this year. “And we really forged to the front [in the casualty count] with five victims,” said Lt. Fernando Estrella of the Port Hueneme Police Department. A shooting on New Year’s Day is still unsolved, while suspects in a Feb. 29 shooting are in custody. All are thought to be tied to Oxnard gangs.

Port Hueneme is less well-equipped than Oxnard to deal with violent gang-related outbreaks. A town of about 20,000 with a police force of 20, Port Hueneme cut the gang unit out of its budget last year. When officers were called out Sunday night to investigate shots fired in the neighborhood west of Ventura Road, they had to call on Oxnard and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to help deal with the carnage they found.

Police are still investigating what happened, but they suspect the shooting sprang from a meeting of rival gangs at a party in the 100 block of West B street in Port Hueneme. About 9 p.m., members of one gang took a shotgun loaded with birdshot and a handgun and chased rival gang members over a three-block area, police said.

“It was more or less a running gun battle through a residential neighborhood,” said detective Sgt. Jerry Beck of the Port Hueneme Police Department.

Victor Lerma, who lives with his family on C Street, heard the shots and looked out his door in time to see a dozen kids scatter. “They ran everywhere, across lawns, over walls,” he said. His girlfriend called 911. His children, ages 5 and 11, slept through it all.

Police picked up four wounded young men and one wounded juvenile at three sites. And although many neighbors heard the commotion, police say witnesses have been hard to find because of the nature of the crime.

“We’re dealing with rival gangs,” Beck said, “and they’re giving us the minimum of cooperation. There’s a real fear of retribution.”

No suspects are in custody. So far, police say they haven’t connected this incident with two other gang-related shootings in El Rio and Oxnard last week.

Four of Sunday’s victims were treated at St. John’s Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and released, police said. A fifth, Adrian Mendoza, 18, was shot in the face and is reported in stable condition at Ventura County Medical Center.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues. “We need the community to come forward,” Estrella said. “It’s the only way to stop this sort of thing from happening again.”

Witnesses can call Port Hueneme Crime Stoppers and leave anonymous tips at 986-8255. Information leading to an arrest and conviction will make the caller eligible for a cash reward.