Shooting victim, companion
uncooperative with Santa
Paula Police after attack

April 30, 2014
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula Police are investigating a shooting Friday that left a documented gang member already being sought on a felony warrant seriously injured.

According to SPPD Commander Ish Cordero, officers were dispatched at 11:22 p.m. Friday to the 600 block of Acacia Road, where the shooting was reported. 

Officers located a crime scene and cordoned it off but found no victim, but shortly were notified that Community Memorial Hospital had reported to dispatch that a gunshot victim had arrived at its emergency room.

The gunshot victim, Bobby Garcia, 28 of Santa Paula, was transferred to the Ventura County Medical Center’s Trauma Unit where he underwent surgery for three gunshot wounds.

Garcia, who was familiar to police through contacts over the years, was reportedly struck above the sternum.

Cordero said Garcia and a female companion reportedly with him when he was shot were “Very uncooperative, nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything, both Garcia and the female didn’t know anything at all.”

All officers were able to determine is that the incident occurred “somewhere on the roadway... he was very fortunate obviously,” but not so investigating officers.

Cordero said, “It’s sad... we put a lot of resources and investigative manpower hours into this, and our victim, a wanted felon, turns around and is very uncooperative. He’s going to need more surgery,” but Cordero said once Garcia is medically cleared he will be arrested for the outstanding felony warrant, “as soon as we are able to.”

Garcia allegedly had violated the terms of his PROS early release-on active probation and parole-for evading a police officer and was being sought by the SPPD when he was shot.

As shown with the March 29 stray bullet murder of Norma Elizalde, such a shooting, “Obviously also puts the public in danger... “

And is a drain on manpower and money: “If there was a way we could go back and recoup what we put into this I would go to these guys that won’t cooperate as we try to find out who attacked them and get it, cover our losses. These are victims,” whose own criminal activities and associations put them in harm’s way.

Although obviously gang related, Cordero doesn’t believe Garcia’s shooting is retaliation or related to other gang murders that have occurred in Santa Paula.

“I think it was just an issue with this guy and whoever shot him... “

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Paula Police Department, 525-4474.

If the caller would prefer to remain anonymous, they can call the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline, 933-5691.

In addition, tips can be emailed to the SPPD at tipline@spcity.org

Those with information can also call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). The caller may remain anonymous and the call is not recorded.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers can also be contacted by texting “Busted” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). 

Crime Stopper Tips can also be sent via the website, www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org   

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for a tip that leads to a felony arrest as confirmed by the arresting agency. 





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