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Man involved in beating case dies


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Gilbert Perez, who along with his brother was charged in March with beating a 14-year-old boy in Oxnard, has died.

Perez was pronounced dead on Sunday at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

An announcement about the cause of death won't be made until officials receive the results of a toxicology report, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.

David Keith, spokesman with the Oxnard Police Department, said an investigation was done and no foul play is suspected.

In March, Gilbert Perez, 29, and his brother, Christopher, 26, were charged with inflicting serious bodily injury in connection with chasing, cornering and beating a 14-year-old boy.

All criminal charges against Gilbert Perez were dropped in April.

During a hearing on his criminal case on Thursday, Christopher Perez, who appeared crestfallen, declined to comment on his brother's death. He has pleaded not guilty felony criminal charges of battery with a deadly weapon with the special allegation of causing great bodily injury.

Christopher Perez's lawyer, Philip Dunn, said the family is shocked by the death.

"I know it was an enormous tragedy to the family, considering that he was held in custody on a crime he didn't commit for over a month, and now, they've endured this tragedy," said Dunn. "It's safe to say that this family is in a state of shock."

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee postponed Christopher Perez's hearing until July 18th, when the case will be set for trial.

Dunn said Gilbert Perez was a key defense witness and was expected to testify if his brother's case went to trial.

"His innocence in this case has been proven so his loss is very significant to us, yes," said Dunn.

On March 20, the brothers allegedly chased the boy through two Oxnard-area mobile home parks, losing sight of him once before cornering him in a backyard.

The brothers had caught the boy inside their mobile home after they returned from work, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing.

Dunn had said that the brothers confronted a "gang-banging burglar" who was trying to steal everything they had.

Oxnard police condemned the attack, describing it as extreme "street justice," and encouraged residents to call 911 if they witness a crime.

Discussions

Posted by BeaHappi on July 12, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The kid who was beaten did not die. He was beaten but lived.

Posted by Whosaidwhat on July 12, 2007 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WAIT WHO DIED????? The guy that beat the teen or the kid???

Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 12, 2007 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

?

Posted by Whosaidwhat on July 12, 2007 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

oH well, karma....

Posted by BeaHappi on July 12, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One of the brothers who beat the kid is the one who died.

Posted by Whosaidwhat on July 12, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember myself and and AnnaWhaat were very angry that these guys beat this kid the way they did, and we both said, just wait, it will come back and bite them in the ass...and it sure did.

Posted by rayrose77 on July 12, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this god at work

Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 12, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thats what I thought Bea.....He didn't die but may have severe brain damage from taking a baseball bat to the head. While I still believe the way these brothers handled the situation was wrong. They had plenty of time to yell for someone to call the police. I still pray for the young man whom is a victim. A Victim of a beating he should not have recieved. Like I said before maybe a kick in the butt !!!! But Come on !
As for the brother who was there doing the beating on this young man , I do send condolences to the family..... No one should have to loose a child. No matter the age.

Posted by rayrose77 on July 12, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if you would . one of the guys that beat the kid died. so it show you what comes around goes around.

Posted by stilts1090 on July 12, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The person that died had all charges against him dropped therefore it isnt karma. He did not commit the crime of beating the 14 year old child, his brother did. it is very sad that he died. even though it was probably self enduced.

Posted by rayrose77 on July 12, 2007 at 4:10 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by Whosaidwhat on July 12, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

EXACTLY YRMOM!!!!!!!!!!! They DID catch him! So why not hold him down until the cops get there?? Why beat him, that's not going to make them bigger men.

Posted by uknow1 on July 12, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

talk about out-of-context...crestfallen? The appropriate word would be "grieving". Guess it is too much to expect the Star to hire an actual journalist, isn't it?

Posted by potatoebay on July 12, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are a lot of confused people here. Pay attention and read !!!

Posted by wdwinder1 on July 12, 2007 at 8:41 p.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by ReinadeRoma on July 12, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Glammi- it's spelled a-C-q-u-i-t-t-e-d. I guess your spell-checker was toggled off.

Posted by sagacious2u on July 13, 2007 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we were all to practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth all would be blind and toothless.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 13, 2007 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Whosaidwhat, Yep it did. Im sorry he died. That is unfortunate to happen to anyone. But I do believe in Karma! Sorry .......and condolences still yet.
Charges were dropped because of some stupid technicality.........a witness saw the guy beat the kid.....in the head over and over again with a bat ! For Gods sake. Two grown men couldn't hold down this kid.
URMOM, He hasn't recovered...... where are you getting your news? in your first post you said you have no clue what is going on? Yet in the other you attack those who have followed the story. Hmmmm
Rayrose, No that isn't what happened. They didn't attack him in the house or trailer. They chased him for blocks. Read the story. They had ample time to call the cops or have someone they passed by call for them. Had they caught him in the house they would have legally got away with shooting him. But NO they had to act like animals and chase him down and continuosly beat him in the head with a baseball bat. Im not talking about one punch and he is knocked out. Im talking about at BAT !
I didn't want to get into this story again. But some people comment about this kid who will never be the same and have no clue what the story is about. I am not assumming anything......thankyou!
wdwinder1 , Gotta agree! Although I do feel for the family....... I do believe in Karma! Anyway we look at it, a kid was beaten unconscious. He could have brain damage for the rest of his life. And someones friend,Brother ,son passed unexpectedly.
No one wins.
high_society .Please, any person can change thier life around. Seems to me you are assumming things about this kids life. And why bring the parents into the story? Do you know the parents? Do you have proof they did a bad job raising him? I know alot of great parents who had thier kid do some bad things. That should not reflect on the parents unless we have proof of what kind of people they are.
To those that are not familiar with this story please do a archive search and learn more.
God Bless and have a great weekend.

Posted by cindoh23 on July 13, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that you all need to read between the lines and not comment on everything you read... These brothers found someone in their home, Gilbert's charges where dropped and now he has passed on. Why can't you just accept that their are people who make mistakes and you don't have to talk so much about them like they are inhuman... They have families kids and brothers and sisters just like we do they are human. Have a little respect for their family and quit talking so much you know nothing about... can you not read where it says Gilbert's charges where dropped then drop it already let this family greave my God...

Posted by sog55 on July 13, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

finally a voice of reason! well put cindoh23.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 17, 2007 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

While I agree that the family should be able to grieve. I also pray for the boy that he will eventually be ok also.......
This is just tragic all the way around , no one wins. But I do send condolences to Gilberts family and friends.



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