Police arrest suspect in south Oxnard shooting

Over a week after Oxnard resident Cristobal Gonzalez died in a shooting on Easter Sunday, Oxnard police have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of the crime.

The shooting was first reported at 6:55 p.m. April 4 in the 600 block of Howell Road in the south Oxnard neighborhood of Cypress.

Police arrived on scene to find Gonzalez down in the roadway with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

Through an investigation conducted by multiple units of the Oxnard Police Department, authorities identified the suspect in the shooting as Jason Armenta, 20, of Oxnard.

Around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, officers tracked down Armenta and detained him without incident. He was booked into county jail on suspicion of murder and participating in a criminal street gang. His bail was initially set at $500,000.

At an arraignment hearing April 16 in Ventura County Superior Court, Armenta pleaded not guilty to murder charges and denied gang-related special enhancements, court records show. His bail was increased to $1.7 million.

Investigation into the homicide remains ongoing. Anyone with information for investigators can call Detective Jeff Kay at 805-385-8174. Information can also be given anonymously by calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.