Teen Arrested in Gang Rival’s Shooting

A 19-year-old Oxnard gang member was arrested Friday on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of a rival gang member last month, police said.

Cristobal Garcia was arrested at the Ventura County Jail, where he has been since his recent arrest on an unrelated parole violation, said Sgt. Lee Wilcox of the Oxnard Police Department.

Garcia was being held without bail.

A 23-year-old Oxnard man with close ties to a rival gang of Garcia’s was shot the afternoon of March 30 on a sidewalk in the 1800 block of Saviers Road, Wilcox said.

Wilcox would not release the victim’s name because he said the man would be intimidated by rival gang members. The victim remained hospitalized awaiting surgery on his stomach, where the bullet lodged after passing through his hand, Wilcox said.

Witnesses told police they saw Garcia get out of a cream-colored or brown Buick Regal, yell something at the victim and then fire once, Wilcox said.

The weapon has not been identified or recovered, Wilcox said.

“I just think it’s gang rivalries,” Wilcox said. “Unfortunately, they really don’t have to have a reason sometimes.”

A felony charge of attempted murder was expected to be filed against Garcia on Tuesday, Wilcox said. Wilcox said additional charges could be filed if police find two other men who were with Garcia at the time of the shooting.