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Ventura man uncooperative after being shot in the face

October 30, 2002
Santa Paula News

Reports of afternoon gun fire and then a call from the hospital emergency room led to an investigation by Santa Paula Police into a “brazen” daytime shooting of a Ventura man, according to a SPPD official.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesReports of afternoon gun fire and then a call from the hospital emergency room led to an investigation by Santa Paula Police into a “brazen” daytime shooting of a Ventura man, according to a SPPD official.The incident started Thursday at about 1 p.m. in the 100 block of East Santa Paula Street when police received a call of shots fired at the corner of Blanchard Street, said SPPD Det. Ish Cordero.Upon arrival, officers were told that shots had been exchanged by riders in a black vehicle and area residents on foot, but those remaining on scene “were all uncooperative, they wouldn’t say who fired the shots except that it was a male Hispanic,” said Sgt. Cordero.About 30 minutes later, SPPD officers were summoned to the Emergency Room of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital where they encountered 21-year-old Michael Eric Garcia of Ventura, who “appeared to have a small caliber gunshot wound to his upper lip area. . .he was also uncooperative and didn’t wish to give a statement or receive medical treatment. He was leaving the hospital without being treated,” when officers arrived.When officers asked Garcia if he wanted to help the investigation, he “said he might, but first wanted to get his ‘head together.’ He was uncooperative other than that,” Det. Cordero noted.
A witness to the incident did tell investigators that two male Hispanics with short black hair and dark clothing were driving westbound on East Santa Paula Street when they came upon three subjects. “They stopped and an argument ensued; one subject got out of the car and shots were fired, but at this point we don’t know if the victim had been walking or riding in the car before being shot.”About three or four shots were fired, according to witnesses who heard the gunfire, he noted.“It’s a little unusual to have a shooting like this in this part of the city and in broad daylight. . .it’s brazen,” added Sgt. Cordero.And, although those involved in the incident are being uncooperative, “we’re still investigating it and will hopefully get a prosecution out of it. . .just because we have uncooperative witnesses doesn’t mean we don’t investigate it fully.”