Gregorio Aguilar

“I just killed my first man.” Those were the chilling words of Gregorio Aguilar, 19, of Fillmore, according to the testimony of Adam Solorio at Aguilar’s June 2 preliminary hearing for murder.

Under oath Solorio testified that Aguilar didn’t think Ventura Circle K clerk Sean Odle, 30, was taking him seriously during the December 26 attempted robbery. Solorio said Aguilar told him that Odle made a face like he was “making fun” of him. He also testified that Aguilar pulled the trigger, realized the safety was on, released the safety and fired, killing Odle with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Odle was shot about 4:25 a.m., and taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died.

Solorio wore a concealed recording devise and testified in exchange for leniency in connection with January 2009 charges of residential burglary, grand theft auto and receiving stolen property. He stated that he and Aguilar drank alcohol and smoked marijuana together and committed the residential burglary.

Aguilar was arrested on February 27 on suspicion of killing Odle in the commission of the botched December 8 robbery. He is charged with capital murder. Judge Patricia Murphy decided there was enough evidence to hold Aguilar on the felony charges, based on hours of testimony.

A 17-year old male, believed to be a relative of Aguilar’s, was also detained in the case after authorities served a search warrant at his home in the 300 block of Rhodes Court, Fillmore, in late February or early March. The juvenile was questioned and released due to lack of evidence.

A store surveillance camera shows two hooded individuals in the store, with one crouching by the front door while the other one approaches Odle with a rifle. Odle is seen holding a cordless phone, possibly calling 911, according to investigators. After the shooting, both suspects are seen running out of the store. Nothing was taken.

The District Attorney has added two special circumstances against Aguilar: committing a homicide while in the commission of an attempted robbery, and the use and discharge of a firearm, along with attempted second-degree robbery with the use of a firearm. Also, Aguilar is charged with two felony counts of robbery in connection with the armed robbery of a Fillmore Shell gasoline station on December 11, 2008. And he is charged with the attempted second-degree robbery of Central Market in Santa Paula on December 12, 2008, where he and an accomplice ran away when the store clerk confronted them with a gun.

In 2008, Aguilar pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-degree residential burglary. This year, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petty theft with a prior conviction. He served a 30-day jail sentence in both cases.