Lara also told detectives that it was “possible” that he fired the shots, Deputy District Attorney John West told the courtroom.Lara is charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle and assault with a semi-automatic weapon; the gun was found to be the weapon used in the murder of a homeless Oxnard man prior to the shooting death of Orozco.Eyewitnesses, Lara’s right thumb print on a bullet casing found in the .40 caliber handgun and the murder weapon itself show that Lara murdered Orozco, said West.Deputy Public Defender William Markov said Lara did not shoot Orozco, proven by his subsequent actions, including rushing out into the street and carrying the wounded Orozco to her car and staying on scene to be interviewed by detectives.But Ruiz testified against Lara, telling the courtroom that she saw Lara pull the trigger and when she asked him what he was doing, he told her to “get rid of” Orozco’s body.Lara’s attorney had failed in his attempt to have him tried as a juvenile; a judge cited Lara’s criminal and gang history for trying him in adult court.During Monday’s court hearing, relatives of Lara and Orozco started shouting at each other outside the courtroom but the confrontation was stopped by deputies.
Trial underway for Isaac Lara in Nov. 2000 murder of Joanna Orozco
May 10, 2002
Santa Paula News
The murder trial for a former Santa Paula 19-year-old gang member got underway this week, with the attorney for Isaac Lara claiming his client is innocent, while the prosecution said the evidence that Lara killed 21-year-old Joanna Orozco on Election Day 2000 is overwhelming.
Lara’s trial opened on Monday, May 6, in a Ventura County Superior Court.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe murder trial for a former Santa Paula 19-year-old gang member got underway this week, with the attorney for Isaac Lara claiming his client is innocent, while the prosecution said the evidence that Lara killed 21-year-old Joanna Orozco on Election Day 2000 is overwhelming.Lara’s trial opened on Monday, May 6, in a Ventura County Superior Court.The homicide occurred Nov. 7, 2000, at about 7:30 p.m. when Orozco and her friend, Shane Longoria of Fillmore, came to the 1300 block Saticoy Street home of Florinda Ruiz to pick up another friend.Lara, then 17, was inside the home; a stranger to Orozco and Longoria, he asked the latter where he was from, a question considered a gang challenge. Orozco and Longoria were uncomfortable and said they would wait in the car; when they were outside the house, shots rang out over a wall, striking Orozco twice, once each in the head and in the back.Longoria told Santa Paula Police investigators that the gunman pointed the weapon at him and said to run: as Longoria ran through Las Piedras Park he was shot once in the arm. Lara then returned to the house and sat down.Lara later told SPPD investigators that he was high on prescription drugs, methamphetamine and beer, and admitted to hiding the gun in a closet at the Ruiz home.
