Five arrests have to swiftly take place in connection with a shooting incident in the Thousand Oaks area on New Year's Eve, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office reported. No one was reportedly injured during the shooting, which involved multiple gunshots and suspects, with one individual observed firing a handgun, according to witnesses on scene.
The initial response came from Thousand Oaks Patrol deputies at around 1:21 A.M., arriving at the 1900 block of Los Feliz Drive after receiving reports of the gunfire. At the scene, they found evidence consistent with a shooting. In a statement obtained by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, detectives from the East County Investigations Bureau assumed the investigation and managed to collect additional evidence, which subsequently led to the identification of five involved suspects.
On January 2, 2026, the detectives, in cooperation with the East County Special Enforcement Unit and the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit, located and apprehended the suspects while they were traveling in a vehicle. Among the arrested were two adults, Cologio Bernal, 19, and Leonardo Baas, 18, along with three male juveniles, each 17 years old, from Thousand Oaks.
The find in the vehicle was troubling, as authorities discovered a handgun believed to be used during the incident and gang-related materials. The juveniles were booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center on multiple charges, including carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Concurrently, Bernal and Baas faced charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Detective Kenneth Ledesma prepared the official news release, stating the commitment of the Thousand Oaks Police Department to a zero-tolerance stance against gang violence. The department encourages community members to report any criminal or gang activity, allowing them to remain anonymous when calling via dispatch. Engagement with community partnerships is stressed as invaluable to the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts.
Further details and updates can be followed on various social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Nixle, for the Thousand Oaks Police Department. Those with information that might lead to additional arrests in this case can consider reaching out to Ventura County Crime Stoppers, where a reward may be offered for crucial tips leading to a prosecution.
