Elderly woman dies days after attack in Oxnard's fourth homicide of 2019

An Oxnard 71-year-old has died of injuries suffered in a seemingly random attack by a man she didn’t know and who later attacked another elderly person before being arrested, Oxnard police said.

Police said Armida Castro was assaulted April 13 on the street near Sixth and A streets. She was trying to get into her vehicle when a man punched her in the head and pushed her to the ground, police reported at the time. While she was down, the attacker allegedly kicked her in the back multiple times before walking away, authorities said.

Police and emergency medical personnel responded, but Castro declined medical attention, authorities said. However, she was taken to a hospital later that day for complications from the injuries she suffered, and she stayed in the hospital for six days.

Castro returned to the hospital Sunday for further treatment and died there, police said.

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Adam Barcenas

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On Tuesday, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Castro’s death a homicide, according to authorities.

Oxnard police arrested Adam Barcenas, 56, who also was accused of attacking another elderly person on the street soon after the attack on Castro, police said.

Police said after attacking Castro, Barcenas approached an 80-year-old man who was walking with his wife near Sixth and A streets, punched the man in the face and walked away. As the victim walked toward his vehicle, Barcenas returned and punched the man again, police reported.

Authorities said an off-duty private security guard intervened, pepper-spraying and detaining the attacker along with downtown security officers.

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When police arrived, Barcenas was arrested on suspicion of two counts of felony elder abuse and battery, as well as a parole violation, police said. Barcenas remains in police custody without bail in county jail. He had not been formally charged with homicide as of Tuesday night.

At the time of his arrest, police said Barcenas had “an extensive history of violence, disorderly conduct and robbery and is currently on parole.”

Police said neither victim knew him.

Castro’s death is the fourth homicide to take place this year in Oxnard and came less than a week after 37-year-old Oxnard resident Husim Avalos Sanchez was shot and killed in an alley behind the 200 block of West Hueneme Road.

The Oxnard Police Department Major Crimes Unit is conducting the investigation into the slaying of Castro. Anyone who may have video or photographic evidence of the incident is asked to send their media to police using the following link: https://oxnardpd.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/6thandastreet.

Additionally, anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Jacob Jundef at 805-385-7860. Information can also be given by calling the Oxnard Police Department at 805-385-7600 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. The city of Oxnard pays rewards of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for homicides in the city.

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Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com.