Man Killed in Gang Shooting in Santa Paula

SANTA PAULA —  A former gang member died Thursday morning in what police called a gang-related shooting--making 1998 the second year in a row that Santa Paula has reported Ventura County’s first homicide of the year.

As officers spent New Year’s Day searching for suspects, community leaders pointed to the killing as further evidence that the city needs to deal with its gang problems.

Louie Fonseca, 27, was found at 1:48 a.m. bleeding in the street in the 100 block of Marin Road. He had been shot once in the face at close range with a small-caliber handgun, authorities said.

Paramedics took the gravely wounded man to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 7:01 a.m., Deputy Coroner James Barone said.

During the investigation, Santa Paula police officers discovered a second shooting victim undergoing treatment at the hospital.

That man, identified as Joe Rivas, 18, of Santa Paula, had been shot in the left shoulder. Police say he was in the same vicinity just before Fonseca was shot.

Rivas was listed in fair condition Thursday.

Police said Rivas, a known gang member, was shot by members of a rival gang New Year’s Eve. Friends of Rivas later returned to the area in search of the shooters and hit Fonseca, who was walking with a group of adults, police said.

Investigators do not know whether the second shooting was intentional or whether the bullet was meant for someone else. Fonseca, a former convict, was no longer involved in gangs, Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Bob Gonzales said.

“He’d done some time and had come back and was living a quiet life,” Gonzales said.

No arrests have been made.

Neighbors in the quiet neighborhood of small homes and condominiums said they were stunned by the violence.

“I was fast asleep at the time and not even aware that it was happening,” Ron Martinez said. “It’s kind of shocking. . . . There are some gang members down the street, but usually they’re quiet and they don’t bother anybody.”

Marin Road resident Maria Cendejas learned of the shooting when she and her family returned from a New Year’s gathering.

“I was surprised. It’s the first time it’s happened here,” she said. “This is a quiet, private street.”

As the day wore on, family members dropped off flowers in tribute to Fonseca, who lived on Ventura Street near the shooting scene.

Fonseca’s uncle, who declined to give his name, said Fonseca was married with three children.

Word of the shootings shocked City Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa.

“This is just devastating news,” she said. “I hope this is not any indication of what we are in for in the upcoming year.”

It was a year ago Saturday that Richard Macias, 19, of Santa Paula was shot to death outside his former girlfriend’s house on East Santa Paula Street--Ventura County’s first homicide of 1997.

Authorities are still seeking Jaime Aries, 22, of Fillmore in connection with that shooting.

The only other homicide in the city last year occurred Aug. 14 when Victor Manuel Avina, 17, of Santa Paula was gunned down in what police say was a gang-related shooting.

Since then, the city has undertaken a partnership with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to intensify patrols after acts of gang violence.

“I think after the shooting of Victor Avina, there was a groundswelling, so to speak, of people who want to find a solution,” Espinosa said.

Espinosa, who took part in a vigil for Avina, expressed sadness and frustration at the apparent increase in gang violence in Santa Paula.

“There isn’t any rhyme or reason to the violence,” she said. “I think there’s a deep sense of frustration out there in our community.”

Gang problems cut through all segments of society, said the Rev. Melitta Haslund of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula.

Haslund is involved with a group that plans to meet with parents of gang members to find out why young people get involved with gangs.

“The idea is to address youth violence from the grass roots up,” Haslund said. “We would like to form a group of mothers, or parents whose kids are gang members, and get them to talk about how hard it is and the difficulties they face.”

One of the obstacles to doing away with gangs, Haslund said, is fear.

Times staff writer Kate Folmar contributed to this story.