Man Shot to Death in Oxnard

A 24-year-old Oxnard man died Friday night, shortly after being shot in the chest outside a local liquor store.

Saul Rojas was pronounced dead at St. John’s Regional Medical Center less than an hour after the 8:30 p.m. shooting, Oxnard Police Sgt. Jason Benites said.

On Saturday, detectives interviewed several possible witnesses, but as of late evening they had not identified any suspects.

Detectives also were investigating whether the shooting was gang-related, Benites said.

When officers arrived at Goode’s Liquor in the 1200 block of Saviers Road on Friday night, they found Rojas on the floor of the market with a single gunshot wound to his chest, Benites said.

Rojas lived near the store.

Residents of an apartment complex behind the liquor store told officers they heard a gunshot after an argument outside the store.

After being shot, Rojas staggered inside the store and collapsed near the front counter, Benites said.

Several residents said gunshots and fights were routine in the neighborhood near the corner of Hill Street and Saviers Road.

“Just the other night, a lady got beat up right on the sidewalk,” said one man, who lives in a small alleyway apartment and who would not give his name. “This is a bad neighborhood. Trust me on that.”

The area contains a mix of apartments, houses, churches and a city fire station.