Suspect, 17, Sought in Fatal Shooting at Party

One man was killed and another was critically injured when gunshots disrupted a birthday party Saturday night in Ventura, and the 17-year-old boy who allegedly pulled the trigger is still at large.

The shootings took place about 9 p.m. at a house in the 3900 block of Dean Drive, according to Ventura Police Department Lt. Don Arth. The dead man has been identified as 22-year-old Luis Carlos Ramirez Romero of Oxnard. The second victim, 45-year-old Herman Charles Fields of Ventura, is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Ventura County Medical Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Both men suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, Arth said.

About 50 people were at the house to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of the residents. One party-goer, who requested anonymity, said, “It was a small, intimate party.”

Witnesses say the suspect was among those who got into an argument in the backyard. Some tried to break up the fracas and asked several of the participants to leave.

“Then some kid got mad and pulled a gun,” said the female party-goer. “Everyone saw the kid.”

Romero, a native of Honduras and nine-year Ventura County resident, was shot once in the chest and died, Arth said. Fields, whose family owns a coffee distribution company, also took one round in the chest, and was transported by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center.

Authorities said Fields had improved Sunday and is expected to recover.

Arth said the suspect is wanted on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. There were no arrests as of Sunday night.

“We’ve got a long way to go on it,” Arth said.

Romero was born Sept. 23, 1974, in Honduras, and worked as a painter.

He is survived by his mother, Martha Martinez; stepfather Jose Martinez; four sisters, Ethelvina Romero of Ventura, Darlene Romero of Ventura, Elsy Patricia Romero of Honduras and Mery Romero of Oxnard; a brother, Jose Danilo Romero of Oxnard, and maternal grandparents Faustino Mendoza and Elena Artica of Honduras.

A rosary for Romero will be held Tuesday at Santa Clara Chapel in El Rio.