1 Held, Others Sought in Gang Incident

Sheriff’s deputies in Thousand Oaks have arrested one suspect and are looking for others in a gang-related shooting.

About 6 p.m. Saturday, deputies received several 911 calls about a possible gang fight brewing at the entrance to Conejo Community Park, located at Hendrix and Dover avenues, according to Sgt. Mike De Los Santos.

Josh Salas, 18, and a 17-year-old who was not identified, along with another unidentified person, had a chance meeting with gang members in the park, De Los Santos said.

The gang members accosted the three, yelling gang slogans and threatening them with clubs and pipes, De Los Santos said.

The victims walked away and to a home on Drexel Circle.

The attackers then confronted Salas and the others at the house, De Los Santos said. Words were exchanged, and one of the suspects pulled a handgun. Salas and the others ran into the garage. The gunman fired several shots, narrowly missing the three. The shots also missed the father of one of the victims, who was working in the garage.

De Los Santos said the suspects ran down the street and left in a dark red car.

Investigators located a car matching witnesses’ descriptions several hours later at Conejo Community Park, where a large party was being held. Witnesses identified Hector Pinedo, 21, of Thousand Oaks as a suspect in the shooting incident. As he drove away from the party, Pinedo was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, De Los Santos said.

The other occupants of the car were questioned and released.

Pinedo was being held in the East County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Arraignment is set for Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court.

Investigators suspect the shooting was in retaliation for ongoing conflicts between two local street gangs.