OXNARD : Suspect Killed by Deputy Is Identified

Investigators on Friday released the name of a robbery suspect who was fatally shot by on off-duty sheriff’s deputy Thursday night in the parking lot of an Oxnard fast-food restaurant.

Deputy Coroner Mitch Breese said Steven Gutierrez, 25, of Santa Paula died of a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Officials released few details about the incident pending investigations by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Oxnard police and the district attorney’s office.

The deputy, 23-year-old Roland Ogawa, was placed on administrative leave after the shooting. Lt. Richard Rodriguez, who heads the department’s internal affairs investigations, wouldn’t comment on the shooting.

He said he expected Ogawa to return to his patrol duties on Monday. Ogawa has been a patrol officer for three years.

Witnesses told investigators that they saw a masked man enter the Popeye’s Chicken restaurant at 1900 N. Ventura Road shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. As the man fled the restaurant, Ogawa identified himself as a deputy and ordered the suspect to stop, police said. The suspect fired one shot from a .45-caliber revolver at the deputy and Ogawa shot him, police said. No one else was hurt.

Gutierrez, who is believed to have resided at his sister’s home in Santa Paula, died at 8:57 p.m. at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.