Roundup: Arrest made in El Rio homicide; other recent victims ID'd

Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

El Rio gunshot victim named; arrest made

A 23-year-old fatally shot in the El Rio area early Sunday has been identified and a suspect has been charged with murder.

Anthony Leyva was an Oxnard resident, the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office reported Tuesday. The cause of death was a gunshot wound of the chest and the manner was homicide, the medical examiner found.

The incident was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of Collins Street, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The unincorporated El Rio community is located on the north side of Highway 101, west of Rose Avenue, north of Oxnard city limits.

Deputies found Leyva with a gunshot wound and provided aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. He later died at a hospital. The sheriff's office lists Leyva as an El Rio resident.

On Tuesday evening, sheriff's officials announced an arrest in the case and provided more details.

Alexis Bustillos, 29, of El Rio, was arrested on suspicion of murder and other crimes. He had previously been arrested Sunday on suspicion of assault and firearms offenses.

Investigators learned Bustillos, Leyva and a third man, a 23-year-old Ventura resident, all knew each other and were together early Sunday when a physical fight occurred between the three. During the fight, Bustillos allegedly pointed a gun at Leyva and the other man, then fired the shot that struck Leyva, according to Tuesday's news release.

After the initial arrest, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case. Prosecutors formally charged Bustillos with murder on Tuesday, court records show. He has also been charged with felony firearms and assault violations.

An arraignment hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of July 29 in courtroom 13.

The sheriff's major crimes unit is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Nicole Grover at 805-797-7096 or Detective Christopher Vorzimer at 805-384-4731.

Piru assault victim ID'd

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office released the name of a man killed in Piru Saturday in an assault during an apparent dispute in Warring Park.

Piru resident Thomas Brooks was 47, the agency said Tuesday. The cause of death was a stab wound of the arm and the manner of death was found to be homicide.

The incident was reported around 5:30 p.m. Saturday , the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said, initially as a request to aid county firefighters treating several people possibly struck by a vehicle.

Deputies found two injured men on the ground in an open field south of the park. The field, off Center Street, connects to the park on Orchard Street.

Brooks was declared dead at the scene. The other man, a 56-year-old Fillmore resident, was taken to a local trauma center and later discharged, authorities said in a news release.

Sheriff's Capt. Ken Truitt said Sunday the conflict may have arisen when a driver was doing doughnuts in the dirt near a family barbecue. The initial investigation indicates a confrontation resulted and the car may have hit a few people, he said.

Brooks, the driver, reportedly got out of the car and a physical confrontation followed. He died from injuries suffered during the fight, Truitt said.

No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday.

The death is under investigation by the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call the bureau at 805-384-4724.

Victims named in Fillmore crash

Two women killed in a head-on crash in Fillmore Friday night have been identified by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.

Piru resident Teresa Jimenez was 64, the agency reported.

Burbank resident Kassondra Jimenez Zaferes was 32.

The two women died at the scene, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the accident. The agency is contracted for police services in Fillmore.

The incident was reported shortly before 7 p.m. Friday along Highway 126, west of Clay Street. Two vehicles had collided in the eastbound lanes of the route, also called West Ventura Street.

Four other people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Deputy Bradley Bordon, who is investigating the crash, said Tuesday there was no additional information to release. The investigation into the cause is ongoing, he said.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Bordon at 805-388-5146 or Bradley.Bordon@ventura.org.

Items may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Arrest made in El Rio homicide; other recent victims ID'd