Teenagers Plead Not Guilty in Shootings

Two Oxnard teenagers pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from shootings last month that left one person dead and two others injured.

Isaac Daniel Lara, 17, was charged with murder and attempted murder in the killing of Joanna Orozco and wounding of Shane Longoria in Santa Paula.

According to authorities, Orozco, 21, and Longoria, 22, went to pick up an acquaintance Nov. 7 at a house next to Las Piedras Park in Santa Paula. Inside the house, Lara got into a brief argument with Orozco. When the pair left moments later, authorities said, Lara followed them outside and allegedly killed Orozco before shooting Longoria in the arm.

Lara’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7.

Diego Morales, 15, was charged with attempted murder and mayhem for allegedly shooting an Oxnard teenager in the head on West Wooley Road. Prosecutors used the state’s 1996 Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act to tack a special allegation to the charges. They said Morales shot the victim while he was a member of a gang.

The Nov. 18 incident was one of several gang-related shootings in Oxnard last month. Morales’ preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 24.

Both teens, who appeared in Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday for their arraignments, were charged as adults under Proposition 21, which allows prosecutors to avoid Juvenile Court proceedings and file charges in Superior Court against teenagers accused of certain felony offenses. They both remain in custody.