Curtis is a full-time college student who – as the Homecoming King last year - was especially looking forward to this year’s dance.“I’m frustrated that there are no answers and I feel like there’s not going to be any answers,” said Epling.“Kids should be able to go to parties” without the fear of mysterious shooters, she said. “Shootings are becoming just an accepted fact; our kids are becoming victimized and parents have to wake up to the fact.”Just weeks ago, 15-year-old Samuel Reeves was fatally shot at a Saturday night party just east of the city; one arrest has been made and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is continuing the investigation.Curtis has a 15-year-old brother who is “pretty upset” and the decision has been made not to tell his 4-year-old brother about the shooting.Family members are “taking shifts, between me and grandmas there’s someone with Eric all the time,” Epling noted.But, “I just think that this town needs to be more involved and aware of what is going on, not settle for accepting this. It’s a tragedy that needs to be looked at. . .and it’s never going to stop until somebody starts talking.”
Curtis recovering, mother urges shooting witnesses to step forward
October 31, 2003
Santa Paula News
Eric Curtis, Santa Paula High School’s 2002 Homecoming King, had stopped off at a North Olive Street party early Sunday with his date to the 2003 SPHS Homecoming Dance, but the festive gathering turned violent when an unknown gunman suddenly fired through the open front door.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesEric Curtis, Santa Paula High School’s 2002 Homecoming King, had stopped off at a North Olive Street party early Sunday with his date to the 2003 SPHS Homecoming Dance, but the festive gathering turned violent when an unknown gunman suddenly fired through the open front door.Curtis, 19, is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital after undergoing four hours of surgery to remove a bullet in his abdomen. Another bullet tore through his biceps and into his chest and out but not before collapsing his lung.The unknown gunman also shot Jacob Garcia, 23, a friend of Curtis’, but after several days treatment for a hip wound at Ventura County Medical Center, Garcia has been released.“Eric was standing there, heard shots and saw Jacob fall and then he fell himself,” said Curtis’ mother, Becky Epling. “He didn’t see the person who fired. . .”Curtis is expected to remain hospitalized “another week at least,” said Epling. “He has a tube in his lung – it collapsed – but he’s improving and they expect a full recovery. Somebody was looking over him and Jacob that they survived it.”The party on the 100 block of North Olive Street was in full swing when someone knocked on the door at about 1:50 a.m. and “shots rang out,” said SPPD Commander Mark Hanson.The Oct. 26th shooting is still under investigation but so far there is scant information from witnesses.“The police are still interviewing people but they don’t want to say anything: that’s the problem and it’s becoming out of control,” said Epling. “Kids should be able to go to parties and this was a get-together after the Homecoming Dance.”
