Homicide suspect remains at large

A man suspected of killing a young couple outside of Sunrise Handy Mart remains at large.

Police are still on the hunt for the suspect in the Sept. 16 shooting that left two people dead.

Armando Ramon Ojedo, 31, of Porterville, is suspected of shooting Ignacio Ayala, 20, and Margarita Alexandra Ortiz, 19.

Porterville Police Sgt. Duanne Griffin said Ojedo was at the market when Ayala and Margarita drove into the station at about 2:30 a.m.

“They drove up to get fuel and while both men were pumping gas there were some words exchanged,” Griffin said. “At some point the young male victim started to walk away.”

With AyalaÂ’s back turned, police believe Ojedo retrieved a gun from his vehicle and shot Ayala.

Griffin said Ortiz was walking toward either the victimÂ’s car or the suspect when Ojedao allegedly fired again, this time at the young woman.

Witnesses said the suspect, since identified as Ojedo, fled the scene in a dark, four-door vehicle.

Officers later responded to reports of a fight taking place outside of Sunshine Market. When police arrived they found Ortiz and Ayala on the ground in front of the store, suffering from gunshot wounds. They died at the scene.

Police believe the shooting was gang-related.

Ojedo remains at large. While the vehicle used by the Ojedo in the shooting has been recovered and impounded, police said the suspectÂ’s whereabouts are unknown and consider him to be armed and dangerous.

The deaths of Ayala and Ortiz represent PortervilleÂ’s fourth and fifth suspected homicides of 2007.