Ventura County Sheriff's Department

RB#: 09-17376
Location: Rio Plaza School, 600 Simon Way, Oxnard
Date & Time: 7-18-2009 and 7-19-2009
Unit Responsible: Gang Unit

Suspects Charge City of residence Age
Duran, Adalberto 2 counts Assault with a firearm Oxnard 18
Street terrorism
Sahagun, Julio Accessory after the fact Oxnard 18
Street terrorism

Adalberto Duran was sentenced to six years in state prison today for shooting at rival gang members at a crowded elementary school in July.

On 7-16-2009, a group of subjects were sitting on picnic benches in the grassy field of Rio Plaza Elementary School. All of the subjects are believed to be from a local tagging crew. Summer school was in session and there were numerous children playing in the playground. The group of subjects were approached by seven rival gang members who confronted them. During the confrontation, one of the rival gang members produced a handgun and fired seven rounds at the subjects. No one was injured during the shooting. Numerous shell casings were found at the scene.

On 7-18-2009, Sheriff’s gang investigators identified the suspects in the shootings. One of the suspects, Julio Sahagun, was located at his residence in the 300 block of Helsam Ave. and arrested. They tracked another suspect, Adalberto Duran, to a room at the Regal Motel, 1012 S Oxnard Blvd, Oxnard. Investigators believed that Duran was armed at the time, so they requested the Oxnard Police Department SWAT team to assist in the arrest. At about 2100 hrs, SWAT officers took Duran into custody as he left the motel room. At the time of his arrest, a handgun was found in his waistband. Both Sahagun and Duran were booked into the Ventura County Jail and were held on $500,000 bail.

On 7-19-2009, Scientists from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Crime Lab confirmed through ballistic testing that the gun used in the shooting was the same gun recovered from Duran.

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested a total of nine gang members during the investigation for a variety of charges. On 9-15-2009, Julio Sahagun was sentenced to a year in county jail on charges of accessory and street terrorism, for his part in the shooting. Sahagun is an illegal alien and is scheduled for deportation after serving his sentence.

On 9-1-09, Adalberto Duran pled guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm and street terrorism. Sheriff’s gang investigators believe that Duran was the only person armed during the confrontation at Rio Plaza School.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department aggressively investigates all gang-related crimes and is committed to reducing gang violence in its jurisdictions.