Oxnard Man Arrested in Possible Gang Slaying
OXNARD — A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing another man Friday night in what police believe may have been a gang incident, authorities said Sunday.
Anthony Frank Vasquez of Oxnard was being held in lieu of $510,000 bail at Ventura County Jail for allegedly gunning down Dino Zarate, 19, who was shot in the head while talking with friends near Clara and Courtland streets.
Vasquez was arrested late Saturday while walking in the 400 block of Yucca Street, said Oxnard Police Sgt. Bernie Schmalhofer. Authorities searched his home and other locations but did not find the murder weapon.
“There was a meeting going on and some words were exchanged between people” before the shooting, Schmalhofer said.
Officers found Zarate slumped in a car.
The motive for the shooting is unclear, but gang retaliation is suspected. Authorities interviewed several witnesses but were still searching for some of Zarate’s friends who were at the scene.
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