Santa Paula Businessman Shot to Death in His Store

The 41-year-old owner of a clothing store was found shot to death behind the counter of his business early Sunday in what police believe was a robbery.

Leovardo Lizarraga, a married father of three who lived in Santa Paula, died just after midnight inside Lita’s Clothing in the 900 block of East Main Street, officials said.

“This was a nice man, a family man and a good businessman, and now his kids will grow up without a father,” said Santa Paula Police Chief Bob Gonzales, who spoke with Lizarraga several times while visiting downtown merchants.

Authorities and Lizarraga’s relatives said he often went to the store late at night to do paperwork or watch television. Gonzales said it was not uncommon to see the store’s light on at 10 or 11 p.m.

Gonzales said the victim was found by a friend who drove by, saw Lizarraga’s car parked out front and thought it was odd that he was working past midnight.

Lizarraga was killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to the Ventura County medical examiner’s office. One of two pistols the victim kept at the store for protection was found on the floor near his body, and police believe he may have reached for it during the robbery. A second firearm was found underneath the front counter. It appears neither weapon had been fired, the chief said.

Several pieces of jewelry were missing from the display cases in the store. Gonzales said officers were doing an inventory of the jewelry to figure out precisely what had been stolen.

Gonzales didn’t know what type of jewelry the store carried--watches, rings or bracelets--but he said some of the pieces were valuable.

But the display cases are not equipped with locks, and it appears that the robber just slid open the doors to reach the loot, the chief said.

Detectives dusted the shop for fingerprints and collected other evidence, but Gonzales, citing an ongoing investigation, refused to comment further.

There was no sign of forced entry, such as a broken window or door lock, and there were no signs of a struggle, police said.

Alejandrina Patron, a cousin of the victim’s wife and the owner of a hair salon across the street from Lizarraga’s store, said she was shocked by the killing and scared because the gunman remained at-large.

Gonzales said detectives are investigating the possibilities that Lizarraga either knew his attacker or that the store was randomly selected by the killer.

Police interviewed residents in the neighborhood--which is near 10th and Main streets and about two blocks from police headquarters--and spoke with at least one other downtown business owner who was working late Saturday.

No one heard gunfire, according to Gonzales.

An autopsy was performed Sunday, and funeral arrangements were still being organized late Sunday.

Lizarraga moved to Santa Paula more than 15 years ago from his hometown of Sinaloa, Mexico, relatives said.

He operated the clothing store, which is named after his wife, Lita, for more than 10 years.

The couple have three children, two boys and a girl. Two of the children are teenagers and one is under 12, Gonzales said.

In his free time, Lizarraga managed several Mexican bands from Santa Paula. He would book gigs for the groups in Santa Paula, Oxnard and Ventura, the chief said.

Lizarraga’s death is the first homicide this year in Santa Paula and the second killing of a local business owner since 1998.

On June 2, 1998, 25-year-old Mirna Regollar was gunned down inside her Oak Street grocery store during an attempted robbery. The mother of two was shot in the head and chest.

Last April, 21-year-old Jose “Pepe” Castillo was arrested in that killing and later charged by a grand jury with murder, attempted robbery and burglary, as well as two special allegations that make him eligible for the death penalty, which prosecutors are seeking.