By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
An Oxnard man has been convicted of first-degree murder and six additional felony charges related to two separate shootings that occurred in Oxnard in late 2021 and early 2022, including the killing of Adrian Sandoval, authorities announced.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said Willis Nichols, 22, was found guilty by a jury following a trial that examined evidence from two violent incidents involving firearms that left one person dead and several others injured.
Nichols was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and three counts of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle.
Jurors also found several special allegations and aggravating factors to be true, including that Nichols personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, caused great bodily injury to victims, and carried out the crimes in a manner that indicated planning, sophistication or professionalism.
The charges stem from two separate shootings that took place in Oxnard within a three-month span.
Christmas Eve shooting at shopping center parking structure
The first shooting occurred on Dec. 24, 2021, inside the parking structure at The Collection at RiverPark, a busy shopping and entertainment center in Oxnard.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Nichols opened fire following a brief verbal confrontation between the occupants of two vehicles.
Prosecutors said Nichols retrieved a handgun and fired multiple rounds at a pickup truck as it attempted to leave the parking structure.
One victim was struck several times and suffered severe injuries that required emergency surgery.
Another passenger narrowly avoided being hit when a bullet traveled through the rear window of the truck.
After the shooting, Nichols fled the scene in a dark-colored Mustang, authorities said.
Investigators later linked the attack to Nichols while continuing to gather evidence in the months following the incident.
The second incident occurred on March 12, 2022, during an underground party held inside an abandoned Goodwill building on Saviers Road in Oxnard.
Prosecutors said Nichols arrived at the location in a dark gray Mustang.
Shortly after entering the building, he approached a group of attendees and opened fire at close range.
Adrian Sandoval was shot in the head and died at the scene.
Two additional victims were struck by gunfire during the shooting. One suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and another was shot in the chest. Both survived their injuries.
After firing the shots, Nichols fled the building and ran outside.
Authorities said he entered the passenger side of a waiting Mustang, which then sped away from the scene.
The shooting prompted a police investigation as detectives worked to identify the suspect and gather evidence.
Six days later, on March 18, 2022, Oxnard police officers located Nichols.
When officers attempted to detain him, Nichols fled on foot, triggering a brief pursuit.
Police eventually apprehended him after a short chase.
During the pursuit, Nichols discarded a backpack that was later recovered by officers.
Inside the backpack, investigators found a loaded Glock handgun equipped with a distinctive blue laser sight.
The firearm was sent to the Ventura County Crime Lab for forensic analysis.
Testing later confirmed that cartridge casings recovered at the Goodwill shooting scene had been fired from that weapon.
Authorities said the forensic evidence played a key role in linking Nichols to the fatal shooting.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Theresa Pollara, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicides Unit.
Following the verdict, Pollara thanked the jury for carefully reviewing the evidence presented during the trial.
“We appreciate the jury’s hard work in carefully considering the evidence involving six victims across seven charges and the related allegations,” Pollara said in a statement.
She also emphasized that the defendant demonstrated a pattern of serious criminal behavior.
“Willis Nichols has shown a pattern of serious criminal behavior, and we will be seeking a sentence that reflects the severity of the crimes he committed,” Pollara said.
Sentencing scheduled for April
Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced on April 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 45 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
He remains in custody without bail.
Prosecutors said Nichols faces a possible sentence of 159 years to life in state prison.
However, because Nichols was under 26 years old at the time the crimes were committed, California law allows certain offenders to be considered for youthful offender parole.
That provision means Nichols could become eligible for a parole hearing after serving 24 years in prison.
Authorities said the case highlights the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of holding offenders accountable.
For prosecutors, the conviction represents a step toward justice for the victims and their families.
