John Crombach Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
INCIDENT: | Six Arrested for Fighting at Party |
DATE/TIME: | 07-25-2010 at 2332 hours |
LOCATION: | 800 block of Cedar Court, Oxnard |
SUSPECT(S): | Jose Angel Zuniga, Jr., 23 years, of Oxnard Rafael Valenzuela Vasquez, 23 years, of Port Hueneme Oscar Vincent Puga, 20 years, of Oxnard Jesse Joseph Zuniga, 18 years, of Oxnard Javier Granados Rincon, 22 years, of Ventura Octavio Ruiz, 26 years, of Oxnard |
LOSS: | Injuries to two adult males and one adult female. One of the males suffered facial injuries and required hospitalization. Names withheld by police. |
PREPARED BY: | Detective Alex Arnett (805) 486-6297 |
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Detective Alex Arnett (805) 486-6297 |
DETAILS:
On 07-25-2010 at 2332 hours, Oxnard police received numerous calls of a large fight in the 800 block of Cedar Court. The callers reported dozens of people fighting and throwing beer bottles, chairs and tables. Oxnard police arrived in two minutes and requested an additional two dozen police officers to deal with the crowd of 150 attending a baby shower in the courtyard of an apartment complex. Fire and ambulance were also dispatched to treat three injured victims.
Witnesses to the incident told police the party was uneventful until eight uninvited men entered the party and confronted several of the guests. The men verbally threatened the partygoers then launched an assault against some in the group using beer bottles, chairs, tables, and a baseball bat. One suspect (Puga) pulled out a folding knife and attempted to stab several persons in the crowd although no one was injured. As the group of men backed their way out of the party, another suspect (Rincon) displayed a handgun.
Witnesses pointed officers to a nearby apartment where the suspects fled. Officers detained six suspects at the location and all were identified by witnesses.
Detectives from the Oxnard police Violent Crimes Unit served a search warrant overnight on the apartment where the six suspects were located. Evidence related to the case was seized; the handgun is still outstanding.
All six suspects were arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon and committing a crime in the furtherance of a criminal street gang. Suspect Ruiz was treated at a local hospital for facial injuries sustained in the fight. All suspects were booked into the Ventura County Jail; bail was set at $100,000 for each suspect.
An investigation is continuing.