Boy, 17, Charged in Woman’s Slaying

A 17-year-old Oxnard boy has been charged as an adult in the shooting death of a Santa Paula woman last week, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Isaac Daniel Lara was charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle and an allegation of using a firearm, said Ventura County Deputy Dist. Atty. John West.

Lara’s arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was postponed until Tuesday at the request of the defense attorney, West said.

According to authorities, Joanna Maria Orozco, 21, and her friend, Shane Joseph 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 asked Longoria if he was a gang member and then briefly argued with Orozco. They left moments later, but Lara followed them outside and allegedly killed Orozco before shooting Longoria, authorities said.

Longoria was struck in the arm as he ran from a car. He was taken to a hospital that night and was recovering this week at his Fillmore home.

Authorities are still unclear about the motive. Longoria denies being a gang member and there is no evidence Lara is one. Additionally, it appears Orozco and Lara didn’t know each other prior to the shooting.

Lara was arrested Monday night after a brief standoff with authorities at his relatives’ home in Santa Paula. He was being held at Ventura County Juvenile Hall.