SPPD: Witnesses identify teen
suspected of firing gun near children
December 03, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Witnesses willing to get involved helped police capture a 16-year-old boy Saturday night who allegedly fired a gun near a group of people, including several children.
According to Santa Paula Police Sgt. Ken Clark the November 29 incident occurred at about 10:15 p.m.
“Officers were dispatched to the area of Harvard Boulevard and Craig Drive,” when 911 callers alerted police shots had been fired in the area.
Upon the arrival of officers, Clark said several witnesses “advised a subject in the area had a handgun and fired shots in the area where they and several children were standing.”
The witnesses also provided a description of the suspect and the direction he took off in after firing the shots.
Clark said responding officers, “quickly set up a perimeter,” and launched a search for the suspected shooter.
During the search, “An anonymous witness provided a possible address of an apartment, in a nearby apartment complex that the suspect was seen entering.”
Clark said officers contacted the occupants of the residence and that a person matching the description of the suspect was located at the apartment.
“The subject,” said Clark, “was positively identified by the witnesses in the area. During the investigation, a handgun,” matching the description provided by the witnesses was located in the apartment where the suspect was found.
Clark noted that additional evidence was located in the apartment and at the scene of the shooting.
The suspect, a 16-year-old juvenile from Santa Paula, was taken to Santa Paula Hospital for a medical clearance for an unrelated medical condition and was later transported to the Ventura Juvenile Justice Center.
Clark said the teen - whose name cannot be released due to his age - was booked on the charges of suspicion of negligently discharging a weapon, child endangerment, being a minor in possession of a firearm, brandishing possession of a firearm with “obliterated serial number... “
No one was injured during the incident.
