SPPD: Shots fired incident could
be third in a week related to gangs

Santa Paula Police are looking for the suspect riding in a pickup truck that fired on those in another vehicle Wednesday evening in Santa Paula, the third such incident in a week that could be gang-related.

According to SPPD Senior Officer Dan Potter, the incident occurred April 1 about 8:05 p.m. in the 100 block of North Steckel Drive at Santa Barbara Street.

A witness that lives in the area told police, called to the scene that “Two dark-colored pickup trucks were in the intersection facing north” when “The passenger in the truck to the left pointed a gun out the window and fired four or five rounds at the other truck,” to its right.

After the shots were fired, the pickup holding the shooter “Made a left turn onto Center Lane and disappeared,” while the truck that had been fired upon made a right turn and also disappeared.

Potter said responding officers “recovered some shell casings” from the scene but there were no reports of a gunshot victim.

There was no argument heard leading up the shooting, the witness said, “Just saw the gun come out of the window and fire,” into the driver’s side of the other pickup.

The incident is still under investigation.

“This is the third shooting incident that was possibly gang-related within the last week,” said SPPD Commander Ish Cordero.