2nd Suspect Arrested in Rio Mesa Attack
Authorities on Thursday arrested a second Oxnard man on suspicion of attacking two Rio Mesa High School students at the campus earlier this week.
The students--ages 14 and 16--were stabbed in Monday’s attack.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested Emmanuel Ramirez, 19, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly kicking one of the victims during the fight, said Capt. Keith Parks, a department spokesman.
Ramirez is being held at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail and is to be arraigned Monday.
Moments after the attack, a school security officer tackled 18-year-old Eric Padilla of Oxnard as he ran from the scene. Nearby, deputies found a knife believed to have been used in the attack.
On Wednesday, Padilla pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a deadly weapon and denied in court that the fight had been gang-related. His bail was set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing is set to begin March 24.
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