The teenage suspect in a wild Oxnard shooting that critically wounded a 19-year-old Five Guys employee was arrested by SWAT and K9 officers as he left his residence, police said.
Jonathan Vasquez J.R., known as JJ, was on a break inside the restaurant at 2700 Portico Way when gunfire erupted outside during an altercation around 8:26 p.m. Last Friday, according to the Oxnard Police Department. The Ventura College student was not the intended target, investigators determined.
Officers found the 19-year-old male victim with a single gunshot wound and rushed him to a local hospital in critical condition. No other victims were located at the scene, the department said.
The 16-year-old male suspect from Oxnard was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center on an attempted murder charge. The cause of the initial altercation between the teen and two unidentified males remains unknown.
“He just graduated high school, where he was captain of his football team and a continuous student on the high honors roll,” JJ’s aunt wrote on a GoFundMe page created for his recovery. “He was starting his very first job while attending Ventura College, learning how to balance working, going to school, and joining the Track team as a thrower.”
The fundraiser, which has raised over $48,200 toward a $60,000 goal, painted a portrait of a young man devoted to both athletics and academics. His aunt described him as a natural leader whose achievements extended well beyond the football field.
“He is a diligent, strong, and smart kid,” she continued. “His heart is made of gold, and he shows kindness to anyone he meets. His laugh, smile and hugs are some of his best qualities!”
The case drew a heavy law enforcement response, with investigators obtaining a search warrant before the coordinated arrest involving Oxnard SWAT and K9 Unit officers. The teenage suspect was taken into custody without incident as he exited his home.
JJ’s shooting has shaken the Southern California beach town, where the Five Guys sits in a busy commercial corridor. The incident marked a violent interruption to what should have been an ordinary Friday evening shift for the recent high school graduate.
The Oxnard Police Department has not disclosed whether the two unidentified males involved in the initial altercation face any charges, or what connection, if any, they had to the victim. The investigation remains active as JJ continues his recovery.
