The shooting happened on Lewis Road near Pleasant Valley Road at about 4 a.m. Investigators say 26-year-old Alvino Ramirez of Casitas Springs was sitting in a parked Jeep with his wife and son when a man walked up to the vehicle and opened fire.
Authorities describe the victim and the suspect, Victor Chavira of Oxnard, as associates in the illegal drug trade.
"I describe them as associates, meaning they knew each other, and have known each other for some time. There are overtones here that suggest that these people were involved in drug activity. And that is how their relationship developed," said Chief Deputy Chris Godfrey, Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
Ramirez died at the scene. His wife and child were not hurt.
"He was shot at close range," said Chief Deputy Godfrey. "And I don't think he saw it coming."
Ramirez's wife called 911. Deputies were responding to a burglary call nearby and arrived quickly. At that point, however, Chavira was gone.
"There was some indication that he was going to shoot her. For whatever reason, he made a decision not to do that and fled the scene," said Chief Deputy Godfrey. "It may very well be that he took off on foot ... It may very well be that he just kept going because he heard sirens."
Chavira was arrested Wednesday afternoon at an apartment complex in Newbury Park, five miles away from the crime scene. Authorities say Chavira had with him $20,000 in cash.
Investigators used tips and bloodhounds to find Chavira.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department used a reverse-911 notification to inform nearly 1,700 Camarillo residents of the manhunt.
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