Police Launch Gang Sweep After Slaying

Hoping to stop gang violence in Santa Paula before it escalates, more than 200 law enforcement officers and personnel raided homes in four Ventura County cities early Wednesday morning looking for suspected gang members.

Prompted by the fatal Aug. 15 shooting of 17-year-old Victor Avina and rumors that his friend planned to attack rivals who are believed to be responsible, Santa Paula police investigators coordinated the 5:30 a.m. raid, said Cmdr. Robert Gonzales.

“We’ve heard that people were planning to retaliate, and that also prompted us to act,” Gonzales said.

With help from 11 law enforcement agencies--including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme and Simi Valley police departments--Santa Paula police searched 17 homes of suspected gang members across Ventura County.

Officers had obtained search warrants for five of the homes and conducted probation searches on 12 others, Gonzales said.

“It was a really well-orchestrated attempt to get the upper hand on gang activity out here,” he said.

Police did not release the names of the two men and two juveniles arrested in the raid, but said all were arrested for outstanding warrants or probation violations.

Although witnesses to the Avina shooting are still not cooperating with police, Wednesday’s raid did result in additional intelligence about the incident, Gonzales said.

“I think we pretty much know now who pulled the trigger. It’s just a matter of finding the evidence that puts it all together,” he said.