LOS ANGELES, CA – A shooting investigation in Ventura has become a homicide case after the victim died from his injuries several days after being hospitalized, authorities said.
The Ventura Police Department said the incident began shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 4, when its Communications Center received reports of possible gunshots in the area of West Ramona Street and Riverside Street on the west side of the city.
Officers responded to the area at approximately 1:05 a.m. and searched for a possible victim, but no injured person was initially located at the scene.
While officers were still investigating the reports, an adult man suffering from gunshot wounds was dropped off at Ventura County Medical Center, according to police.
Authorities said the man had sustained life-threatening injuries.
The victim remained hospitalized for several days while detectives worked to determine what happened near Riverside and Ramona streets and how the injured man was connected to the shooting reports.
On the evening of Aug. 8, police said the victim died from his injuries at Ventura County Medical Center.
His death changed the nature of the investigation from a shooting case involving life-threatening injuries to a homicide investigation.
Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s name.
Police have also not disclosed his age, city of residence or additional information about the wounds he suffered.
Information reviewed by Street People indicates investigators have not announced any arrests and have not released a description of a suspect or possible suspect vehicle.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting also remain largely undisclosed.
Authorities have not said whether detectives believe the victim was shot at the intersection itself, somewhere nearby or at another location before being transported to the hospital.
Police have not released a possible motive or said whether the victim knew the person responsible for the shooting.
The absence of a victim when officers first arrived is one of the notable elements of the case. Officers were initially responding only to reports of gunfire, while the injured man arrived separately at the hospital a short time later.
That sequence means detectives are working to reconstruct what occurred before the victim reached the medical center, including where the shooting took place and who may have been present.
Ventura police said detectives responded during the initial investigation and have continued handling the case since then.
The investigation is being led by the department’s Major Crimes Unit, which is responsible for investigating major crimes, felony offenses and gang-related crimes within the City of Ventura.
The unit is part of the department’s Investigations Division, alongside crime analysis, crime scene investigation and other specialized investigative teams.
Police have characterized the Aug. 4 shooting as an isolated incident.
“This appears to be an isolated incident and there does not appear to be a threat to the community,” the department said in its homicide announcement.
Authorities have not explained what evidence led investigators to that conclusion.
No additional information has been released about whether a firearm, shell casings, surveillance footage or other evidence was recovered during the investigation.
Police also have not said whether investigators have identified any persons of interest.
For now, the case remains open as detectives attempt to determine who shot the victim and what led to the encounter.
The department said additional information may be released later as investigators make progress.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, heard gunfire in the area or has information that could help establish what occurred to contact investigators.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Fabian Gutierrez of the Ventura Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 805-339-4428.
No arrests have been made.
The homicide investigation remains ongoing.
