News Release
On December 5, 2022, at about 12:50 A.M., Officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call of a shooting victim in the 1200 block of West Gonzales Road. When officers arrived, they located a 20-year-old male, later identified as John Carrillo, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Services quickly arrived and began life-saving measures. Unfortunately, Carrillo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
After a four-month long investigation, investigators were able to obtain sufficient evidence that identified Michael Ortega as the person responsible for the murder of John Carrillo. This was through the hard work of investigators from the Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, Violent Crimes Unit and officers assigned to the Special Enforcement Unit.
On March 7, 2023, at about 1:00 P.M., investigators from the Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit arrested Michael Ortega for murder. Ortega was in custody at Ventura County Main Jail on unrelated charges when investigators arrested him for the murder of John Carrillo. Ortega is being held without bail on the murder charge.
Additionally, investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit arrested Ortega and charged him with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon that stemmed from a separate incident that occurred the night prior to the murder of John Carrillo.
Investigators are still seeking any further information regarding this incident and are encouraging anyone who may have heard or seen anything to contact Detective Justin Songer at (805) 385-7680.  Also, anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website:www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.
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