Man Shot in Head During Argument Dies

A 36-year-old Ojai man who had been kept alive by life support machines since being shot in the head last weekend has died, a coroner’s investigator said Wednesday night.

Thomas Mahl died at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday at Ventura County Medical Center after he was removed from life support, said Investigator Mitch Breese. An autopsy is scheduled at 10 a.m. today .

Mahl was shot Saturday night during a dispute with an acquaintance, Daniel Joseph Bonilla, at a Casitas Springs trailer park, authorities said. Ventura County sheriff’s officials have refused to disclose the nature of the argument.

After the shooting, Bonilla, 27, walked to a nearby house, where an elderly couple--who were unaware of the shooting--called for a taxi for him, Sheriff’s Capt. Keith Parks said.

Bonilla allegedly kidnapped cab driver F.G. Fancher, forced him to drive north on the Ventura Freeway toward Santa Barbara and then released him unharmed in Goleta.

Bonilla, who continued on with the vehicle, was arrested a short time later after he lost control of the taxi north of Santa Barbara and careened 90 feet off the freeway and crashed, authorities said. He crawled from the wreckage, hiked to the road and was met by authorities, Parks said.

Bonilla was being held without bail on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, carjacking and violating his parole. Sheriff’s officials said they would seek to have the attempted murder charge changed to murder.