On Thursday evening, Oxnard Police Department reportedly seized a trove of firearms, including a P80 handgun and two makeshift 12-gauge pipe shotguns, during the execution of a search warrant, as detailed in a news release by the department. The investigation centered around Eduardo Lara, an 18-year-old local resident, believed to be involved in illegal firearms possession.
According to the report, officials from the Special Enforcement Unit and the Violent Crimes Unit approached Lara's residence on the 3000 block of South J St. to serve the warrant. Officers observed Lara throwing away the handgun behind his house while he was attempting to evade arrest by running south down an alley. Following a brief chase, Lara was detained.
Upon serving the search warrant at the suspect's home, officers located the discarded 9mm, Glock-style, Polymer 80 semi-automatic handgun — which is typically sold incomplete without serial numbers and requires additional manufacturing to become functional. Nearby, investigators discovered two 12-gauge pipe shotguns, described as improvised firearms. The presence of these weapons, devoid of appropriate identification numbers and bearing the hallmarks of illicit craft, served to underscore the seriousness of the crime.
Lara now faces charges related to felony firearms violations and has been transported to Ventura County Jail. The department, through its proactive branches, dedicated to mitigating gang-related crimes and gun violence, implores any individuals with knowledge regarding criminal activities to come forward. They assure anonymity for those who wish to submit information through various avenues, including the Ventura County Crime Stoppers, reachable at (800) 222-8477, or through their website for tips via text or email.
