Youth Being Held in Man’s Shooting

A 17-year-old boy is in custody at Ventura County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of shooting a man four times--twice in the face--outside a party last month in Moorpark, authorities said Monday.

The unidentified Moorpark teen was being held on suspicion of attempted murder, as well as vandalism and weapons charges not related to the shooting, Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Nelson said.

Investigators have not recovered a weapon in the case, Nelson said.

The victim, 27-year-old Eric Beltran of Moorpark, is recovering at a Simi Valley hospital.

Authorities said a gunman walked up and shot Beltran at close range in the face, neck and chest as he was leaving a party Jan. 30 in the 1200 block of Walnut Canyon Road.

Detectives believe the attacker may have been retaliating after an argument in early January.

“Apparently these two had been in a previous altercation,” Nelson said. “The shooter had been slapped around by the victim.”

The suspect was arrested Feb. 3, but authorities did not confirm that fact until Monday.

Nelson said both the victim and suspect are current or past associates of rival gangs from Moorpark and Camarillo.