Two men were arrested early Monday morning following a reported shooting and standoff at the Rancho Sespe Apartments, located in the 2900 block of East Telegraph Road east of Fillmore, according to a press release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began around 11:51 p.m. on July 27, when community members reported two men fighting in the apartment complex parking lot. Deputies from the Fillmore Station responded and determined that one of the men, identified as 31-year-old Jose Ignacio Suarez, had discharged two rounds from a rifle in an unknown direction with gross negligence.
When deputies attempted to contact Suarez and instructed him and any other occupants to exit the residence, he refused. Additional law enforcement resources were called to the scene, and after multiple announcements, Suarez exited the apartment at approximately 2:44 a.m. on July 28. He was arrested for obstructing or delaying peace officers in the performance of their duties.
While deputies were securing the apartment ahead of a search warrant, they discovered a second man, 36-year-old Erasmo Hurtado, hiding inside. Hurtado had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant and was arrested for the warrant, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and delaying a peace officer.
Later that morning, around 8:15 a.m., detectives obtained and executed a search warrant on Suarez’s residence. During the search, deputies recovered additional evidence related to the shooting, including a .22 caliber rifle.
Suarez was ultimately booked on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, being under the influence of a controlled substance while armed, and obstructing a peace officer.
Both Suarez and Hurtado were transported to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility pending court proceedings. The investigation was conducted by deputies and detectives from the Fillmore Patrol Station, Fillmore Detectives Unit, and the West County Special Enforcement Unit.