Residents of a quiet neighborhood in Moorpark, California, were engulfed in a tense confrontation on September 10, when a man barricaded himself in his home after an alleged attempted murder. According to a Ventura County Sheriff's Office media release, William Boer, 61, was arrested and now faces charges following a day-long standoff that ended without injury to law enforcement or the victim. The incident, drawing on substantial law enforcement resources, unfolded when deputies responded to a call at a residence on the 4200 block of Ventavo Road just after 10 a.m.
Upon arrival, deputies were informed by the estranged wife of the suspect that Boer had attempted to set his house on fire with her inside, turning on the gas to the stove and housing several propane tanks. Shortly after, she exited the house and reportedly heard what she believed were gunshots. While the woman was fleeing from danger, responding officers heard additional gunshots emanating from Boer's residence. Boer, before becoming secluded in his home, had a brief phone conversation with a sergeant, which was cut short as he chose to barricade himself.
The standoff necessitated an extensive response from various specialized units, including Ventura County's SWAT and detectives, air support, and K-9 units, as well as collaboration with neighboring police departments and fire services. As the situation intensified, surrounding community members were evacuated for their safety following a VC Alert notification. Around 6:50 p.m., Boer fired a weapon toward officers stationed outside his house, warranting two counts of attempted murder charges—one targeting his estranged wife and the other for a law enforcement officer—as noted in the media release.
Negotiations carried on intermittently, with Boer being engaged via phone by the Tactical Negotiations Unit, striving for a peaceful resolution. Their efforts culminated around 8 p.m. when Boer emerged from his house and was taken into custody peacefully. He was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with bail set at $6.2 million. Boer's arraignment took place on September 12, as stated by Sergeant Monica Smith in a prepared statement.
Investigations continue as authorities urge anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward to assist. Individuals with knowledge about the events can contact Detective G. Gonzales directly or anonymously through Ventura County Crime Stoppers, which is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible.
