| Nature of Incident: |
Assault with a Firearm / Vehicle Pursuit / Suspects Arrested |
| Report Number: |
20-70921 |
| Location: |
Matilija Hot Springs |
| Date & Time: |
5/24/20 @ 03:19 PM |
| Unit(s) Responsible: |
Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
Sheriff’s Ojai Patrol Station
Ventura Police Department
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
|
Age |
(V) Adult Male
(A) Juvenal Hernandez
|
Port Hueneme
Oxnard
|
37
22
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| Narrative: |
An armed suspect shot an adult victim who was among several families enjoying the Matilija Hot Springs during the Memorial Day weekend. Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Ventura Police Department responding to the call engaged in a high-speed vehicle pursuit, and subsequent foot pursuit, of the suspects after their vehicle collided with a building in the City of Ventura.
On 5/24/20, at approximately 03:19 PM, the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a shooting that had just occurred in the Matilija Hot Springs, located on Maricopa Highway near Matilija Hot Springs Road, in the unincorporated area of the Ojai Valley. Deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Ojai Patrol Station responded to the call and obtained a vehicle description for the suspected shooters. The information was broadcasted via radio and another responding deputy observed the suspect vehicle driving south on Highway 33. A vehicle pursuit was initiated as the suspect vehicle drove recklessly, but the deputy lost sight of the vehicle.
Soon after, officers from the Ventura Police Department intercepted the suspect vehicle in the area of Highway 33 and Stanley Ave. Another vehicle pursuit was initiated, with the suspect vehicle driving at high rates of speed, in reckless disregard for the public safety. The suspect vehicle collided with a building in the area of West Park Road and Olive Street in the City of Ventura. The occupants then fled the vehicle on foot. Additional officers responded to the collision scene and located all three suspects a short time later.
Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau responded and assumed jurisdiction for the investigation. Juvenal Hernandez was subsequently arrested for felony violations of assault with a deadly weapon (firearm) and evading a peace officer while driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner. A second suspect remains hospitalized due to injuries he received from the traffic accident. A third suspect was released without being charged in the crime.
The motive for this shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information about this incident, or the suspects involved in the crime, is encouraged to contact Detective Michael Marco at 805-384-4739 or [email protected].
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| Prepared by: |
Sergeant Ryan Clark |
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| News Release Date: |
05/26/20 |
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| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Captain Eric Buschow
(805) 947-8129
[email protected]
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Approved by:
Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Jeff Miller
YES NO |
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