Gang Member Takes Stand in Murder Case

A Camarillo gang member who participated in a cross-county crime spree last year took the stand in the Arturo Contreras Jr. murder trial Thursday and reluctantly told jurors about the events leading up to the fatal shooting of a Moorpark motorist.

Shifting uncomfortably in the witness chair, Jose Espinoza testified that he and Contreras and three other Barry Street Gang members participated in a string of crimes during a joy ride from Camarillo to Moorpark on Dec. 3.

Contreras, 19, is on trial on murder, robbery and shooting charges. Prosecutors say he was the instigator of the crimes, but his attorney says Contreras was just the driver.

Espinoza, 17, pleaded guilty earlier this year to being an accessory to murder, committing a drive-by shooting and robbery.

During his testimony, Espinoza said the teens shot at a Camarillo house before driving to a Somis market where one of them robbed a man at gunpoint. Then, Espinoza testified, they headed to Moorpark to “look for girls.”

With Contreras at the wheel and Espinoza in the front seat, the youths’ car approached High and Spring streets in Moorpark.

Michael Castro, 20, who has pleaded guilty to shooting motorist Jesus Manjarrez to death at that intersection, was sitting in back with two other teens.

At the intersection, Contreras stopped his car and Castro got out. He took five or six steps toward Manjarrez’s white Ford Mustang before firing at it, Espinoza said. One shot hit Manjarrez in the forehead and killed him.

After the shooting, Contreras sped away from the scene, yelling at Castro: “Why did you do that?” Espinoza testified.

Contreras later led police on a chase through Camarillo before stopping to let his friends get out and run from authorities, Espinoza said. They were later apprehended.