“We are working hard day and night, crunching everything we have,” but public input is needed from “those who know or think they know what’s going on.” The community “has to pull together on this one,” Boggess noted, “and show that they won’t put up with this.”Earlier on the same day that Duran was shot, his friend, a 16-year-old male juvenile, was stabbed five times, but he did not sustain life-threatening wounds. The unidentified teenager was treated for his injuries and released; later that evening he was present when Duran was murdered.A suspect in the stabbing, Valente Tobias, 17, of Santa Paula, according to police a documented gang member, was arrested the next day on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and participation in a criminal street gang. Tobias will be tried as an adult.“Duran was not a gang member,” said Boggess. “The boy that was stabbed is not a gang member.”Cordero admitted he’s “frustrated that people are not coming forward. Unless it affects them they don’t want to solve the case, and that’s wrong. It not only affects the victims and their families directly, but the community as a whole.”Cordero, like Boggess, is convinced “There has to be a core group of people who know” who murdered Duran. “If we make an arrest and can prove that someone knew who it was, we will go after that person or persons as an accessory after the fact.”Anyone with information pertaining to the Duran homicide is urged to call Boggess at 525-4474 x119, or Cordero at 525-4474 x117. If a caller would prefer to remain anonymous, they can call the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline, 933-4253-1-#.Those with information can also call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. Callers remain anonymous and can collect a $1,000 reward if information offered results in a conviction.
SPPD: Without community help Ismael Duran homicide might go unsolved
October 29, 2008
Santa Paula Police Department
Santa Paula police investigators have become frustrated because they believe members of the community know - or have heard - who murdered a popular area teenager.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula police investigators have become frustrated because they believe members of the community know - or have heard - who murdered a popular area teenager. And it will be up to the community to help solve the case, the first homicide in the city in almost two years.Ismael Duran was gunned down October 13 shortly after 10 p.m. while standing in front of a home with friends on South 12th Street. A lone gunman walked up to the group and opened fire, striking Duran once in the upper chest.“Every lead we get we go after,” said Sergeant Ish Cordero, who heads up the Santa Paula Police Department Investigations Unit. “But so far, nothing has come up to lead us to a suspect. All our leads have pretty much been the same information... everyone has the same story, what occurred and why it occurred, but we’re not getting anything solid” that would lead to the identification of a suspect.Duran was a popular, outgoing Renaissance School student who was fond of soccer and not involved in area gangs.Cordero said the SPPD “needs suspect information, an ID, description, anything people might hear - even if they think it’s minor - let us know.” SPPD investigators are feeling increasingly frustrated, because they know “People are hearing things and not passing it on... they have the attitude of ‘Why get involved?’ They should relay information.”Cordero said those who might have information include “teachers and teachers’ aides who are also not contacting police.... Any adult or any person in the field of public service that hears anything or knows anything must report it to law enforcement, even if they don’t believe it to be the truth. It’s up to us to investigate and determine” whether or not such information is viable.“And that goes for the kids too,” Cordero added. “They can always call Crime Stoppers or our hotline and leave an anonymous message. Even if it turns out the information is not right, that’s okay. But they have to remember it’s their community and it’s up to everybody to get involved to keep it a safe community... and to keep these types of incidents from happening,” because criminals would know they can’t get away with lawbreaking.According to Detective Wally Boggess, the SPPD is “doing everything they possibly can, and at the same time we’re looking for assistance from the public... there are people out there that know what’s going on.” Even those little things, “what they might think is insignificant” that people have heard about the Duran case could prove to be the “case breaker,” but only if reported to police.
