On June 29, at 4:15pm , the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a shooting that had just occurred in the 4000 block of East Main Street.
When Ventura patrol officers arrived on the scene they located Cameron Miller ,25 year old Oxnard resident who had been shot and Smith a 21 year old male Oxnard resident who had also been shot.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and Smith was transported to VCMC for treatment.
Ventura PD Major Crimes Detectives and Ventura County DA Investigators responded to the scene to take over the investigation. The investigation revealed that there were three verbal altercations between the suspects and victims that occurred before the shooting. The first occurred near Del Taco in the 4300 block of East Main Street. The second occurred in the parking lot of Lassen’s on East Main Street. The last occurred in the parking lot west of Sizzler’s in the same area.
At this time one of the suspects fired at least 3 shots at the victims striking Miller 2 times and the second victim once. The suspects got into a waiting vehicle that was driven by a juvenile female and they fled the area traveling onto the eastbound 126 Freeway.
Shortly after a Ventura PD Corporal patrolling in the area of Victoria Ave. and Telephone Rd. saw the suspect vehicle traveling northbound in that area. The suspect vehicle was followed to the area of Telegraph Rd. and Hill St. and a stop was initiated. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The suspect vehicle traveled eastbound on Telegraph Rd. at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. Ventura PD Officers pursued the suspect vehicle to the area of Telegraph Rd. and Cambria Ave. where it crashed into a tree.
Three occupants of the vehicle were immediately taken into custody. The driver, Richard Hernandez, fled from the vehicle into a nearby orchard. Ventura PD Units with assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Air Unit searched for Hernandez and he was located approximately 2 hours later.
The suspects are:
Richard Hernandez, 20 yrs., Oxnard Resident
Alex Ramirez, 20 yrs., Ventura Resident
Luis Aguilar, 19 yrs., Oxnard Resident
Female juvenile, 16 yrs., Oxnard Resident
Hernandez and Ramirez were booked at Ventura County Jail for murder, attempted murder, and various street gang enhancements. Hernandez was also booked for hit and run causing injury and felony evading. Aguilar and the juvenile were admitted to VCMC to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. Upon release Aguilar was booked at Ventura County Jail for murder, attempt murder, and gang crime enhancements. The juvenile was booked at Juvenile Hall for the same charges.
The Ventura Police Department is asking anyone who may have seen any of the altercations leading up to the shooting to please contact Sgt. Matt Cain at 339-4488.
