A Ventura County jury has convicted Gabriel Torres, a Port Hueneme resident, of attempted murder with special allegations including the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm. The jury's verdict came after reviewing evidence of the 2022 shooting incident where Torres fired at a victim multiple times in Oxnard, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced.
On December 23, 2022, Torres drove to the victim's residence, walked to an alley nearby, and shot six rounds from a handgun, hitting the victim three times. Surveillance footage helped in identifying a partial license plate and a figure similar to Torres’ description. Following the incident, law enforcement used this footage along with cell phone location data to place Torres at the scene, according to the DA's press release.
After fleeing, Torres was pursued by the Oxnard police on December 31, 2022. During the chase, he discarded a 9mm pistol, later matched through forensic analysis to the one used in the attack. The victim survived but had to undergo a two-week hospital recovery for injuries sustained. "This was an execution-style attack carried out in broad daylight with complete disregard for human life and public safety," Supervising Senior Deputy District Attorney Blake Heller stated in the release.
Torres' conviction covers several grave charges, including attempted murder and several enhancements related to the use of a firearm and the violent nature of the crime. The court has set his sentencing for October 8, 2025, where Torres, who remains in custody without bail, faces up to 34 years to life in state prison, the release outlined by Communications Manager/PIO Joey Buttitta.
