3 Men Arrested After Shots Heard Near Ojai Campground
Three Los Angeles residents were arrested on suspicion of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner Monday afternoon after sheriff’s deputies heard gunshots ricocheting off canyon walls around the Wheeler Gorge campground.
Just before 4 p.m., deputies were on a routine patrol near Wheeler Gorge above Ojai when they heard the shots fired in the canyon half a mile south of the campground, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
While they were investigating, several more rounds bounced off the canyon walls near where the deputies were standing.
The deputies used their public-address system to order anyone in the vicinity to lay down their weapons and come out.
“People started coming down out of the mountains,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Higgason.
The deputies requested backup because of the number of rounds fired. More authorities from the Sheriff’s Department, including the Air Unit, as well as from the U.S. Forest Service and California Highway Patrol helped contain and search the area.
The three arrested were Antonio Zaragoza, Moises Zaragoza and Juan Cardenas, all of Los Angeles. They were booked at Ventura County Main Jail.
Deputies recovered a Colt .45-caliber pistol, a Winchester .30-30 rifle and a Smith & Wesson shotgun, as well as numerous rounds.
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