In Oxnard late Thursday night, a 17-year-old girl was critically wounded by a gunshot to the neck while behind the wheel, in an incident authorities are actively investigating. According to the report by KTLA, officers first received calls about gunfire in the 500 block of Cuesta Del Mar Drive at around 9:12 p.m. Subsequently, reports came through of a related single-vehicle crash near Rose and Emerson Avenues.
Responding to the accident site, police determined the situations to be connected, finding the teenage driver with a neck wound. She was swiftly taken to a hospital and had to immediately undergo emergency surgery. The Oxnard Police Department's news release states that as of Friday, her condition was stable, though her identity has been withheld. Alongside her at the time of the shooting were two passengers, both of whom escaped physically unharmed.
The series of events was set into motion when an unidentified shooter fired multiple shots at the victim's vehicle. It was during the frantic effort to rush the injured girl to hospital care that the collision occurred. The suspect was still at large as of the latest updates.
Detective Randall Gonzales is leading the inquiry into the violent incident, which remains ongoing. Those with any knowledge about the crime urgently need to come forward. Information can be disclosed to authorities by contacting Detective Gonzales directly at 805-288-3289, or through email at [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Ventura Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477, or on the website www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org.
