Crime rates go up all around the world. It doesn’t matter where you live or how you were raised. Violent crimes have been normalized more and more throughout the years. Gun control is one of the reasons. 

Guns have been easier to access throughout the years. Especially for teenagers.

That is the case for a teen facing murder charges in Oxnard. 

In April a 16-year-old male was found on the night of April 29 with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Alexander Belleza died three days later. While police found Alexander Belleza on The 200 block of James Avenue in Oxnard, they state the shooting took place in a different location. 

According to officials, the night of the shooting, Alexander Belleza was in the passenger’s side of a car going to Cuesta Del Mar Drive in Oxnard. The suspect ended up having a verbal argument with Belleza and allegedly shot Belleza in the head. 

Police were not able to arrest the suspect until months later.

Not until Thursday morning where the 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody. He was then charged with murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, using a firearm in the commission of the crimes, and with the special circumstances that the murder was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Since he was 15 at the time of the shooting, he will not be eligible to transfer to an adult court. He is in custody in the Ventura County Juvenile Detention Facility where he will then be transferred to the department J4 of the Juvenile Justice Center on Monday morning. 

Due to the tragic incident, two mothers and two fathers lost their sons. Both to gun violence. 

The Oxnard Police detectives are asking anyone with a video or a photo of the incident to upload those videos/photos to https://oxnardpd.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/200jamesavenue. 

Anyone who has any information can contact Oxnard police Detective Kaya Boysan at 805-385-7642.