2 Gang Members Indicted in Killing

Two fellow gang members have been indicted in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Santa Paula boy at a birthday party last year, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Nathan Maloney, 21, of Ventura and Michael Carrillo, 18, of Santa Paula remained jailed Wednesday on suspicion of murder in the Oct. 12 death of Samuel Reeves Jr., prosecutors said.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

Maloney, who authorities believe fired the fatal bullet, also was charged with a special circumstance related to his gang membership that makes him eligible for life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Carrillo, a member of the same gang as Maloney, could receive a maximum 25 years to life in prison. He was not charged with a special circumstance.

Reeves, who was not a gang member, was gunned down at a large party on Peres Lane between Fillmore and Santa Paula. Authorities said several hundred people were at the party, including dozens of gang members.

Reeves, who was Ventura County’s youngest homicide victim last year, had brawled with one or both of the suspects before he was shot in the torso, authorities said. He died a couple of hours later at a Ventura hospital.

Authorities have declined to comment on the motive other than to say the shooting was gang-related.

Maloney and Carrillo are scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on April 22.