The argument that followed led to Neill’s arrest.Two days later Neill went back to Garcia’s and allegedly shot him in the upper torso and right arm; Garcia was transported to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for his injuries and was released last week.Neill’s Harley-Davidson - the vehicle he was driving when he led police on a high-speed chase before his capture - has been impounded.On Aug. 8 Neill was arraigned and his original $500,000 bail increased to $750,000, a $250,000 enhancement for using a gun in an attempted murder.If convicted on the charges Neill could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.Det. Koranda said Neill has “no criminal record to our knowledge prior to this incident and had no police contact with SPPD as a suspect in anything.”
SPPD: Suspect’s bail raised to $750,000 on attempted murder charge
August 17, 2001
Santa Paula Police Department
A retaliation shooting suspect appeared in a Ventura County courthouse last week where a judge boosted his bail to $750,000 on charges of using a gun for an attempted murder.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA retaliation shooting suspect appeared in a Ventura County courthouse last week where a judge boosted his bail to $750,000 on charges of using a gun for an attempted murder.The suspect, Richard Johnsen Neill, 21, of Santa Paula, believed to be an associate of the Hell’s Angel’s, was arrested after he led police on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle on Aug. 9 after he allegedly shot mechanic Fernando Garcia, 29, also of Santa Paula, twice outside Garcia’s home.The shooting occurred two days after Neill had been released from custody after being arrested for disturbing the peace while challenging Garcia to fight; Garcia met with Chief of Police Bob Gonzales to discuss his concern for his safety just hours before the shooting that occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. outside 223 E. Santa Barbara St.The incident was retaliation for the victim reporting Neill to SPPD for reckless driving of an unmarked police car on Aug. 7, said SPPD Major Crimes Det. Daryl Koranda. Neill was working as a mechanic for McCoy’s Automotive on Palm Avenue near the corner of Main Street where the police car was being serviced.“Neill went by Garcia’s house at a high rate of speed and recklessly,” said Det. Koranda. “Neill reportedly saw a person he knew driving on the street and made a reckless maneuver around the other vehicle at a high rate of speed. . .Garcia was being a good citizen and called it in.”Neill suspected that Garcia had filed the reckless driving report and confronted him: “Neill went to Garcia’s residence and asked if he had reported it and Garcia said yes,” Det. Koranda added.
