Two suspects have been taken into custody following a report of shots fired in the typically serene Bardsdale area, a rural community south of Fillmore. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, prompting a response from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Fillmore Station. According to a news release, Adrian Aguilar and Jose Mercado, both 25, were arrested after deputies located an occupied vehicle from which the shots were believed to have been discharged.
Upon investigating, the deputies discovered a loaded handgun without a serial number, commonly known as a "ghost gun." These types of firearms are particularly problematic as they are untraceable by law enforcement, often lacking serial numbers, and are transferred without the necessary federal firearms license dealer involvement. "The prevalence of these firearms has been on the rise in recent years," reported the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Aguilar and Mercado now face charges including negligent discharge of a firearm, unlawful firearm transfer, and possession of a large capacity magazine among others.
Both suspects were booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, awaiting court proceedings. Meanwhile, Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that could lead to an arrest in this case, with the option for the caller to remain anonymous.
