Man, woman shot to death

Police are looking for the suspect in a shooting Sunday that left two people dead.

A man and a woman were shot and killed Sunday morning in front of Sunshine Handy Market, 415 W. Poplar Ave., Porterville.

Margarita Ortiz, 19, and Ignacio Ayala, 20, of Porterville, were shot after an altercation with a known subject at about 2:30 a.m. They died at the scene.

Porterville Police Sgt. Duanne Griffin identified the suspect in the shooting as Armando Ramon Ojedo, 31, of Porterville.

Ojedo was not in custody as of Monday evening. Police said the suspectÂ’s whereabouts are unknown and consider him to be armed and dangerous.

On Sunday, officers responded to a report 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, but still alive.

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

Griffin said the shooting is believed to be gang-related. Police believe alleged gang ties was also the subject of the argument that took place just before the shooting.

Investigators identified Ojedo as the suspect based on evidence collected at the scene. The vehicle used by the Ojeda in the shooting has been recovered and was impounded by police.

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

The body of Clenon Ian Williams, 21, was found by passers-by on Aug. 2 in Porter Slough near the intersection of F Street and Oak Avenue. Then, on Aug. 27, Juan Manuel Castellanos-Alvarado, 35, of Porterville, was gunned down during an afternoon shooting witnessed by dozens of people in front of Sunshine Market on South Main Street.

No suspects have been arrested in connection with either case.

The cityÂ’s third suspected homicide of the year occurred the night of Sept. 6 when Samuel Hart, 38, of Porterville, allegedly stabbed Ruben Martinez, 23, of Porterville, during a fight.

Hart is being held without bail in connection with the killing.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ojedo is asked to call police at 782-7400.