Second Suspect Arrested In Connection With The Death Of An Innocent Victim Of Gang Violence in Oxnard

Wednesday March 15, 2023

     Updated--The Ventura County District Attorney's Office says a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of an Oxnard man whose family says was the innocent victim of gang violence.

     Prosecutors allege that shortly after midnight on December 5, 2022, 32-year-old Paul Steven Ramos of Santa Paula drove the vehicle that took the alleged shooter, 23-year-old Michael Ortega of Oxnard, to the apartment complex in the 1200 block of West Gonzales Road in Oxnard where Ortega is alleged to have used a sawed off shotgun to kill 20-year-old John Carrillo.

     Carrillo died at the scene.

     His family members told KVTA News that Carrillo had no gang ties, was not involved in gangs in anyway, and was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time where he became the innocent victim of gang violence.

     Ramos, like Ortega, is facing a murder charge and special gang related allegations.

     He was arrested on March 10th and booked into the Ventura County Jail where he is being held on $1 million bail but is still not eligible for release.

     Both Ramos and Ortega are due in court April 7th to face arraignment on the charges against them.

     Ortega is also facing several other charges for other gun related gang crimes and more than 60 special allegations.

     He also cannot be released from jail.