 Jeri Williams Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Officer Involved Shooting – Update |
| DATE/TIME: | Saturday, 10/13/12 at 10:12 pm |
| LOCATION: | 100 block North Garfield Avenue, Oxnard |
| PREPARED BY: | Assistant Chief Jason Benites, (805) 385-7624, jason.benites@oxnardpd.org |
| CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Chief Jeri Williams, (805) 385-7624, jeri.williams@oxnardpd.org |
DETAILS:
At approximately 10:00 PM on Saturday 10/13/2012, Oxnard police officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle in the Colonia neighborhood. The driver of the vehicle initially failed to stop for the officers. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle in the area of Second Street and Grant Avenue. The vehicle was occupied by three male subjects, and they refused to comply with the officers’ instructions. For approximately 10 minutes, the officers tried to gain compliance from them. During that time, officers relayed information that one subject was talking on a cell phone and another was simulating a weapon with his hands.
As this was occurring, officers were advised by dispatch that the Oxnard Police Department had received a call from a nearby resident that the vehicle’s occupants had possibly brandished a handgun. As the officers coordinated their response and continued to try and gain the subjects’ compliance, the driver suddenly drove away from the scene and attempted to evade the officers. After a short pursuit, the driver stopped his vehicle in the 100 block of North Garfield Avenue.
When the vehicle stopped, two of the three occupants exited the vehicle and ran from the officers. The officers chased the subjects on foot and were fired upon.
Nine Oxnard police officers fired their weapons during this incident. One suspect, Jose Zepeda, sustained fatal gunshot wounds. A second suspect, Justin Villa, sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound, and was arrested. The third suspect, Rafael Hernandez, remained in the vehicle and was arrested.
During this rapidly developing foot pursuit, which included officers being fired upon, some of the officers believed that Alfonso Limon was one of the suspects. As a result, some of the officers fired their weapons at him.
It was determined that Limon was not involved in the incident. Officers moved Limon, who was in close proximity to Zepeda, to another location where officers and emergency medical service personnel rendered aid. Unfortunately, Limon’s injuries were fatal.
Two handguns belonging to the suspects were recovered at the scene.
The involved officers are currently on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following critical incidents.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is conducting the investigation, along with assistance from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Oxnard Police Department. The Oxnard Police Department will also conduct an administrative investigation.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 10/18/2012, 1600 hours
