Murder suspect, 24-year-old Raymond Bolanos remains in jail.
On January 18, a deadly shooting occurred in the public parking structure on Harbor Blvd. and California, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Alejandro Hernandez of Ventura. This is Ventura’s first murder in 2020, and police say the motive appears to be gang related.
At approximately 2:45am, a 911 call was received regarding a shooting victim at the top level of the parking structure. Patrol officers responded and located one victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was treated by Ventura City Fire and transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police said the crime occurred when one group – standing outside of their red Ford Mustang, was approached by the second group of people in a white sedan. The two groups started fighting when one person inside the vehicle shot at the group outside.
The Mustang fled the scene and ended up in Oxnard where the driver lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road by Victoria Ave. and Nantucket Parkway. CHP and Ventura police detained three of the vehicle’s occupants. One person fled the scene and was later apprehended.
The murder suspect, 24-year-old Raymond Bolanos, was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail for murder and gang enhancement. A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Bolanos has prior convictions for carrying a concealed firearm, gang enhancement and a hit and run.
Twenty-six-year old Julian Nunez was arrested for a parole violation warrant and has prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and battery with serious injury, and twenty-three-year old Stephanie Sanchez was arrested for a misdemeanor warrant. She has a prior conviction for possession of a loaded firearm.
Bolanos and Nuñez appeared in Ventura County Superior Court for an arraignment hearing. Bolanos was charged with murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nuñez is accused of assault with a semi-automatic firearm as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Ventura County Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Bolanos, with an attorney from Conflict Defense Associates appointed in Nuñez’s case. CDA provides a legal defense for indigent defendants when cases conflict in the public defender’s office.
Both men also face allegations related to prior felonies and are accused of committing the alleged crimes for the benefit of a Santa Paula street gang.
Nuñez and Bolanos remain in Ventura County jail. Nuñez’s bail was set at $290,000 and Bolanos’ bail was set at $1.43 million. Both men are due back in court for a continued arraignment hearing on Feb. 20.
