Suspect arrested in shooting outside Mission Church in Ventura

Ventura police said Friday that authorities had arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting last week near Mission Church.

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Josue Rizo, 21, of Santa Paula, was arrested around 7:40 p.m. Thursday by Los Angeles police officers, authorities said. He was found in a vehicle in the 9100 block of Sharp Avenue in the San Fernando Valley community of Arleta, police said. Officers also recovered a firearm believed to have been used for the shooting, police said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday after Ventura police identified Rizo as the suspect after investigating witness reports and surveillance video footage from the scene, according to authorities.

The shooting was reported at 7:03 p.m. Dec. 29 in the 2800 block of Elba Street near Mission Church, a former movie theater in a shopping center. Witnesses said the victim and suspect were engaged in a verbal altercation immediately before the shooting, according to police.

Authorities said the 25-year-old male victim was shot in the stomach and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was in stable condition in the 24 hours after the shooting. 

Rizo was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held in custody in Los Angles County Jail awaiting extradition to Ventura County.