Beating Victim Still in Critical Condition

A Santa Paula man who was beaten with baseball bats in downtown Ventura remained in critical condition Sunday night at Ventura County Medical Center, according to authorities.

Larry Mendoza, 28, suffered severe head injuries after an altercation early Saturday that started at a convenience store on the corner of Laurel and Main streets. Earlier in the night, Mendoza attended a rap concert at the Ventura Theatre on Friday night, according to police.

Authorities said Mendoza allegedly started a scuffle at the Circle K, which eventually moved to Cemetery Park in the 1300 block of Main Street. Santa Paula resident Robert Tate, 24, was also injured, but was treated and released at the county medical center, police said.

Authorities said Ross Lorenzana, 34, of Ventura, and three juveniles left after the initial scuffle with Mendoza and then returned with baseball bats, which they used as weapons. All four remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Ventura Police Sgt. Jerry Thurston said investigators are trying to determine whether the incident was gang related.

At this point, police are not connecting the crime with the free rap show at the Ventura Theater, where several fights erupted.

“I don’t think this has anything to do with the [concert]. This happened at about 1 o’clock in the morning,” said Ventura Police Lt. David Inglis.

“We don’t even know if [the suspects] were down there.”

The concert was shut down early by the theater at about 10:30 p.m. after several incidents of fighting and drunkenness.