Last Suspect Arrested in Slaying of Ventura Teen

Authorities on Wednesday arrested the eighth and final suspect in connection with the September beating death of 18-year-old William Zara in Ventura.

Benny Mendez Lopez Jr., 18, was taken into custody about 10 a.m. at a house in Brawley in Imperial County. Lopez, who had been sought on an arrest warrant, was taken to Ventura County Jail, where he was being held on $500,000 bail.

Lopez, six other adults--all Ventura residents--and one juvenile are accused of fatally beating Zara with bats and shovels Sept. 25 outside his home on East Warner Street in Ventura.

The suspects, who are alleged gang members, apparently suspected Zara of calling police on them while they were having a loud party across the street, authorities said.

Indicted by the Ventura County Grand Jury in December on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit assault were Frank Olvera, 33, and his wife Rosana Olvera, 36; Terry Paul Schell, 22; Chris Gonzales, 22; Mario Jaquez, 19; Thomas Barrios, 21, and Lopez.

Schell, Gonzales, Jaquez, Barrios and Lopez each face an additional charge of street terrorism, and all seven defendants face allegations that the slaying was done to benefit a gang.

Frank Olvera and Lopez also face charges for allegedly wielding bats, shovels or other weapons during the attack. Authorities believe the two men inflicted the fatal blows.

A 14-year-old boy was also accused of participating in the beating, and his case is being handled in Juvenile Court.