Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 3766 Santa Clara Avenue, Oxnard, CA
Date and Time: January 19, 2009 / 8:30PM
Victim(s): Name withheld pending notification of next of kin - Female - 27 years
Suspect(s): Zavala, Julio - Male - 30 years

On January 19, 2009 at about 8:20PM, a neighbor heard a gunshot come from the area of Zavala’s residence. The neighbor went to Zavala’s house to check on Zavala, his wife, and two children (male age 12 and a female age 6). The neighbor found the front door open and the children watching television. The children told the neighbor Zavala and his wife (their mother) were in the bedroom. The neighbor called for Zavala, but didn’t receive a response. The neighbor went back to her house and woke her husband, who went to the Zavala house directing the children to his (the neighbor’s) house. The husband called for Zavala, knocked on the bedroom door and tried to open the bedroom door, but found it locked. As the husband was walking out of the Zavala residence, he heard a gunshot from inside the residence. The husband directed his wife to call 911.

Responding Deputes were directed to the Zavala residence, and entered the front door to check on the welfare of Zavala and his wife. The Deputies forced entry into the bedroom and found Zavala and his wife were shot. Deputies summoned fire and medical personnel, who pronounced Zavala and his wife dead at the scene. Zavala and his wife each suffered one fatal gunshot wound. The weapon was recovered inside the bedroom. Investigators do not believe there are any outstanding suspects. The evidence suggests Zavala shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Zavala’s relatives did not know of any reason Zavala would want to harm his wife. There had not been any previous domestic violence between Zavala and his wife reported to the Sheriff’s Department since Zavala and his wife began living there about a year ago.