Unpaid Loan Led to Slaying, Police Say

A Saticoy man was in jail Tuesday on suspicion of fatally shooting a 27-year-old auto shop owner who owed him several thousand dollars, authorities said.

Fredrico Orozco, described by police as the owner of a Saticoy auto body shop, was killed Monday night after an argument outside the home of Nabor Moreno, 42, on Aster Street in Saticoy.

Police say Moreno, a construction worker, loaned Orozco several thousand dollars months ago. Orozco, who lived in Piru, had not paid back the money, Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Bill Montijo said. Monday afternoon, Moreno went to Orozco’s auto shop and confronted him about the debt, Montijo said. After a heated argument, Moreno returned to his home.

Later in the evening, Orozco showed up at Moreno’s house and the two men began arguing outside. Moreno pulled a gun and shot Orozco once in the upper torso, police said. Orozco staggered a couple hundred yards down the street and collapsed. He was pronounced dead at Ventura County Medical Center at 6:24 p.m.

Police said Tuesday that they were still investigating the killing. Moreno was being held at Ventura County Jail on suspicion of murder and was to be arraigned today. Bail was set at $250,000.