Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Area of Appian Way and Roman Avenue, Camarillo
Date & Time: July 13, 2008 @ 12:42 a.m.

Victim / Witnesses / Suspects: Age City of residence
(V-1): Jose Luis Castro (Deceased) 20 Camarillo
(V-2): Male Adult (Name Withheld) 25 Camarillo
(V-3): Male Adult (Name Withheld) 23 Oxnard

A party, primarily consisting of young adult males, was occurring in the 1800 block of Roman Avenue in Camarillo. A group of uninvited guests arrived and were eventually asked to leave. While this was occurring, the uninvited group became involved in a confrontation in the street with another group associated with the party.

During the confrontation, Jose Luis Castro was stabbed multiple times in the chest area by an unidentified suspect from the uninvited group. Castro staggered across the street to the parking lot of Dos Caminos School, located at 3635 Appian Way. Castro was apparently trying to enter a pickup truck belonging to Victim #3, but collapsed on the ground near the vehicle. Sheriff’s deputies responded within two minutes and immediately began CPR. Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly thereafter. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and Mr. Castro was pronounced dead at 12:52 am.

During this same incident, Victim #2 was assaulted by an unidentified suspect and received a relatively minor laceration to the forehead area, which required sutures. Victim #2 was treated at Saint John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital. Additionally, an unidentified suspect threw a brick through the windshield of the pickup truck belonging to Victim #3 just prior to the stabbing. All suspects responsible for these crimes are believed to be associated with the uninvited group of partygoers. At this time it has not been determined if this incident is gang related. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit at (805) 477-7000.