A 19-year-old Ventura College student and Five Guys employee was fatally shot while on a break at the Oxnard restaurant, authorities reported. The victim has been identified as Jonathan Vasquez J.R., known as JJ.
The shooting occurred around 8:26 p.m. on Friday in the 2700 block of Portico Way. According to the Oxnard Police Department, Vasquez was inside the restaurant when a gunshot was fired outside during an altercation between a 16-year-old male suspect and two unidentified individuals. Vasquez was struck by a single gunshot and transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Investigators determined that Vasquez was not the intended target of the shooting.
Investigators identified the 16-year-old suspect and obtained a search warrant for his residence. Officers from the Oxnard Police Department, SWAT, and K9 Unit arrested the alleged shooter as he was leaving his home. The suspect was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center on a charge of attempted murder. The cause of the initial altercation remains under investigation.
Vasquez had recently graduated from Oxnard High School, where he served as captain of the football team and maintained high honors. He was attending Ventura College and had recently started his first job at Five Guys. A GoFundMe campaign established by his aunt described him as a diligent, strong, and smart individual with kindness and a golden heart. The campaign has raised over $48,200 towards a $60,000 goal.