Teenager Arrested in Fatal Shooting
Authorities on Friday arrested a teenage boy in connection with the shooting death of 17-year-old Ruben Escobedo of Santa Paula.
Police also netted a .22-caliber rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition Friday in a predawn raid that targeted eight homes--six in Santa Paula and two in Oxnard.
The 16-year-old teenager, who was not identified, was booked into Ventura County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of attempted murder, Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Robert Gonzales said.
The raid was launched as part of an investigation into an April 15 gunfight on Salas Street in Santa Paula that left Escobedo dead and a 21-year-old man wounded.
Police suspect that Escobedo, described as a gang member who recently had moved to Santa Paula from Oxnard, fired on a group of people gathered in a driveway. He died when someone in the driveway shot back, police said.
Authorities now have three people in custody in connection with the case: the boy arrested Friday, a 17-year-old boy whom they believe may have fired the fatal shot, and the wounded 21-year-old.
The case is expected to go to the district attorney’s office next week, Gonzales said.
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