Prosecutors move to have teen suspects tried as adults in Oxnard homicide case

Prosecutors charged two teenagers with murder and filed a motion Wednesday to have them tried as adults in the murder of an Oxnard man earlier in the week, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

The two suspects, both males ages 15 and 16, were each charged with the murder of Adrian Ornelas, 26, of Oxnard. Prosecutors filed a motion to transfer their juvenile cases to adult court.

Around 3:51 a.m. Sunday, Oxnard police responded to an assault in the area of Anchorage Street and Bard Road. Officers arrived and found Ornelas suffering multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

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Despite being given medical aid, Ornelas was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was Oxnard’s fifth homicide of 2018. 

Later that same day, officers spotted a vehicle that was reported to have been involved with the assault. Two teens inside the vehicle were arrested on suspicion of the assault, and an adult was released from the scene pending further investigation.

The suspects’ arraignment was continued to July 12 at the Juvenile Justice Center. They remain in custody at juvenile hall.

An investigation into the homicide is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ken Tougas at 805-200-5669. Information can be provided anonymously through the Violent Crimes Hotline at 805-982-7070.