Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Ogonowski locates two .25 auto caliber shell casings from a Saturday night shooting at the intersection of Fox Street and Ojai Avenue.Photo by Rob Clement
By Lenny Roberts
Investigators say they have no real leads in the Saturday evening shooting of a 17-year-old high school student in the 100 block of Fox Street. The victim was shot in the leg by an unknown assailant who left the scene in what witnesses said was a red or orange Dodge Charger or Avenger.
Ojai Police Chief Bruce Norris said Tuesday two .25-caliber shell casings were recovered on Ojai Avenue at the Fox Street intersection, indicating the shots were fired from the moving vehicle. According to investigators, at approximately 6:45 p.m. Saturday, deputies responded to a call of possible gunshots heard. Upon arrival, they contacted numerous witnesses who saw a scuffle in the street between two different groups of Hispanic males. One group of males got into a vehicle and fired three shots at the victim as they drove off, and the victim was struck once in the leg. The victim was then taken by friends to the Ventura County Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Norris said Deputy Matthew Ogonowski was first to arrive at the scene, and reported seeing the suspect vehicle pass him as he turned onto Fox Street from Ojai Avenue. Norris added that Ogonowski got a look at the vehicle but didn’t know at the time that it was the suspect vehicle. His main concern, Norris explained, was to confirm that someone had been shot and provide immediate aid.
The suspect vehicle was last seen turning eastbound on Ojai Avenue.
Norris said there was a mix of people who heard noises and came out to see. “I believe OSL members were in the area but don’t know the extent of their involvment.” He added there is no reason to believe this shooting is related to the one last year on Drown Street.
Describing the suspect’s car as “a pretty distinctive vehicle,” Norris added that local officers and members of the county’s gang task force have been advised.
“A broadcast was put out right away,” Norris said. “We know what we’re looking for.”
Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit at 477-7000.
24 comments:
Thanks Lenny & Rob for the update. It is sad seeing this happen in our great town.
A festering problem that continues.Local police efforts are retroactive, and Bruce Norris admits to being overwhelmed and needing community solutions. A multi-million dollar sherrif's budget, yet only two patrol cars on duty in valley all night? I see tags on affluent buildings- stating youth feels disenfranchised, and observe sherrif patrol cars hurrying past but never stopping to interact with community and understand issues on the streets. It seems that continuing denial of problems, appeasing public safety
image of community is counter-productive and retroative. Statistics indicate growing problem
and putting it off doesn't deny this. Solutions? Community based, looking at socio-economic causes. Soline from Ojai Organic Hemp clothing has Latino and post-gang perspective. Too bad the network from Topa Topa school has stopped. PL
Take a look at OVNEWS Archives,
post from JAN FEB MARCH 2007 for
a clear community perspective
and response. Problems still
here- it seems the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
I just don't understand why these problems are still here. After all, we've all been complaining and complaining and complaining for so long that you'd think SOMEONE would have done something. I mean, how much more do we have to complain? After all, Ojai is the only place that has these problems and every other place that has ever had them doesn't have them anymore, so why don't we just catch up with the rest of America and become 100% gang-free?
are you saying there are only 2 patrol cars at night? local ojai police? no wonder there is so much tagging and what i hear violence that never gets reported the animals are running the zoo
This is just another example of how the City of Ojai is running right now - horrible management, starting with the Council who won't fire the bad City Manager. All of the Ojai city government is in reactive mode. I remember when there used to be proactive management. Not anymore.
Unless you're going to run for City Council and fix everything, you're just as full of crap as everyone else.
PL, you can't possibly be saying there aren't enough police in Ojai?!
When there was gang activity last
year and the neighborhood response
groups formed, it was relayed that was the sheriff staffing for the valley- seperate from the Ojai PD. Now, still the same problems with no proactive in place. PL
relying on heresay
oops hearsay
Ojai needs a gang injunction similar to the one in Oxnard. Remember their whining about infringement on civil liberties? As far as I am concerned, gang members forfeit those rights.
Identify and destroy is the policy of James Hatch. Weeds in a lawn get pulled, they get sprayed, they get destroyed. It should be no different for these repeat offenders, be it through tagging, intimidating, or outright thuggery.
James Hatch hit it. These little brats seem to think they can get away with messing up our town by playing the race card when they get caught. We need to have an injunction that allows us the pretty much roll the streets up on these thugs at dusk, disallows them from hanging out with themselves and more. Oxnard did it. We would not have to go far to find out how to get it done.
It is pretty damn sad that this little haven has this big of a problem. Ten years ago you could pretty much walk around town at any time and not worry. No more.
C'mon Ojai PD, City Council, let's get off of our thumbs, admit this problem is still here and fix
the problem now before someone gets killed. Is it going to take someone important getting caught in crossfire before you get shocked into finally doing something?
Everybody likes to blame someone else for this crap. If blaming someone else for this problem is all you've ever done, then you're one of the causes of the problem. You're one of the enablers. If "James Hatch" or anyone else could solve this problem, they'd have done it already. How come they haven't?
Why haven't they solved this problem is a very good question! It is the whole point here. It CAN be solved.
Part of my job was raising a child who has higher aspirations than to be a gang member. The fruit does not fall far from the tree, you know.
And it IS damn well the job of the police, and their superiors, the city council, to solve these problems. And if they do not, let's elect some officials who will not take the head in the sand approach.
Get yourself elected. Fix the problem. Show everyone how to do it. Nobody else in the country has been able to stop the rise of gangs, but you obviously can. Show everyone how it's done.
Well, heck. Let's just give up and turn the town over to the little thugs!!! The gang injuction in Oxnard HAS had an impact and it sure would not hurt to give it a try. Got any better ideas? Do you own property here? Do you want to sell out for less than what it is worth after the thugs take over?
Like I said, get yourself elected and show everyone how it's done.
If I read Anonymous correctly, his opinion is that if you do not run for office, you should not have an opinion. Ever heard of representative government? Voicing frustrations is exactly what our representatives should want to hear.
Civic matters, especially
ones as like this, change by understanding and participation,
not negative response like yours
which comes off like a frustrated
tantrum. Try asking the right
questions youself, not slighting others who do...
above is addressing anonymous naysayer...
Like I said, get yourself elected and show everyone how to do everything right. Otherwise, you're nothing but talk. I suspect that's the case, though.
cops go after the easy $$$ pull over anything that wont be too much paper work only thing cops are afraid of besides being shot is paper work and running and don't forget the stun guns at 600.00+ to the trusting sheep i mean public if you see some sh@# then kick some ass
WOW. I love this town...Why is it turning into some ghetto place. Jeez, we should do something about this....its not fair that we all have to go and hide in our houses before 7 o clock, because these dumb kids want to play games....Jeez get a clue!!
Post a Comment