Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 5, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I really pray they find these creeps.OR someone in the car comes forward. If not they are just as GUILTY as the driver is ........

Posted by Ms_California on May 5, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Instant A-hole, just add alcohol! Why can't people be happy drunks!

Posted by Shipfaced on May 5, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He was dragged 75 yards ? Wow ! ...thats almost the length of a football field.

With 4 chicks in the vehicle, you know the driver will get busted. Women have big mouths and love to talk....yack, yack, yack !

Posted by Shipfaced on May 5, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go, Star ! First you say it's his girlfriend, then you say it's his wife.

Which is it ?

Posted by vcsexplorer11 on May 5, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe Zarate was there with his wife and his girlfriend. I hope the find the murderer.

Posted by mtnbkr on May 5, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Star Staff! Is "hit and run" your term or did it come from "staff reports"? In either case, a "hit and run" implies this was and accident. Based upon the narrative, this was a "murder" (i.e. deliberate act). Especially since the driver ran the man over a second time! How is this a "hit and run"?

Posted by GWAR on May 5, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I you read the article, it clearly says: "Department officials initially reported that the woman was Zarate's girlfriend."

Posted by Relvd98 on May 5, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So sad. My neighbor said that she knows his wife and was with her over the weekend consoling her. She didn't go into details, but from what she said, it was horrible. Hope these cowards get caught.

Posted by Relvd98 on May 5, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

and for the record, it was definitely not a "hit and run".

Posted by jmcgaw3046 on May 5, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What differance weather you call it hit and run or not, this was murder and when found the person will not be charged with hit and run, but murder. Why the big concern about what the Star called it, maybe that is what the police called it, just like at first the police said it was his girlfriend, they the change it to wife, what is the differance she was both his wife and girlfriend. My wife was my girlfriend.

Posted by keem_s on May 5, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that these types of assault cars should be banned. These high occupant capacity cars with fully automatic transmissions have no place on the streets of our fair cities. They are the preferred cars of choice for drive by shootings and bank job get away cars. Or course, these cars can be used for all kinds of good things also in the hands of law abiding, responsible citizens like going to work, school, grocery store, etc but that’s not important and should not be considered when the enacting the ban.

On a more serious note, my condolences to the family of a citizen who stood up for decency only to have some scumbag murder him for it.

Posted by Angeliki805 on May 5, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wow i wondered y he ran them over it had to b a good readon... i hope they r good........ good luck an bless u............hope u catch that guy who seems like a discusting pig

Posted by smithjc on May 5, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

actually, what it's called is and will be important. felony hit and run (hit and run involving injury and/or fatality) or felony dui (dui resulting in injury or death to other than the impaired driver) do not carry a penalty anywhere near that of murder. lawyers will argue semantics for days, while justice suffers.

btw, great take on this keem. that's the kind of logic that morons like bloomberg and the clintons use.

Posted by keem_s on May 5, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thx smithjc, glad you figured out my little satire of Bloombuerg, Obama, both Clintons, Sarah Brady, Ted Kennedy, Chuckie Schumer, etc, etc

Posted by Mr_E_Man on May 5, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Some thoughts:

Hit and run... Regardless of intent, the driver hit someone, then fled. Makes sense to me.

tknudsen: As a happy resident of Southern California, I look forward to your migration out of the area.

Girlfriend vs. wife: I don't see how that matters. A man is still dead and the woman who loved him was injured.

My condolences to those left behind. And I hope that someone comes forward with some info about the driver. There is no excuse for what happened to this man.

Posted by jbees805 on May 5, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder how the world would be if you replace marijuana with alcohol to be served at bars. Much more chill. This guy would be still alive. Rest his soul and hopefully they find the creep.

Posted by Relvd98 on May 5, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. E

If you read the article again, it stated the driver did not flee; he came back and ran over Zarate again. Sounds like a typical hit and run to you? It was apparent the driver wanted him dead.

Anywho, condolences to the family of friends of their loved one.

Posted by CharliesMom on May 5, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To "tknudsen" & other Ventura County bashers:
If you hate Southern Cali so much, why are you here? Have you ever actually resided anywhere else in this country? I have! And I cannot stress how GOOD we have it here in Ventura County! Do you have any idea how many thousands of people yearly leave the east coast & elsewhere to live here, in PARADISE?!
Do us a favor & go ahead and move to ARIZONA! We would love to have miserable people like you LEAVE our beautiful home, as you don't deserve to live here! Good luck & I hope you enjoy Pheonix's 105-degree daily summer climate. STOP putting Ventura County down- and just get the heck out!

Posted by Mr_E_Man on May 5, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He may have came back and ran him over again, but ultimately, he didn't stick around to get caught. He fled.

That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be charged with hit and run.

I've seen cases like this where a vehicle is used as a weapon. The D.A. shouldn't have too much trouble getting a murder conviction out of this.

Posted by zulumaster on May 5, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by Shipfaced on May 5, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You tell'em, Charlies MILF....i mean mom !

Posted by mIssSIdekIck on May 5, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IM W0NDERING H0W THIS WENT FROM COMMENTING ABOUT A POOR MAN WHO GOT KILLED OVER THE WEEKAND TO LIVING IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA OR ARIZONA... PLEASE.. SOUNDS LIKE YOU PEOPLE REALLY HAVE SOME ISSUES HERE & NEED SUM ONLINE CHATTING TO RELIEVE YOUR SELFS.. HAVE RESPECT & LOG ON SOMEWHERE ELSE.. THIS POOR MAN IS DEAD & NOW HIS WIFE HAS TO LIVE WITH THIS.. MAY HE REST IN PEACE & ILL HAVE HIS FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS!

Posted by jkaspr on May 5, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tknudsen...you sure are bitter.

Posted by genndan on May 5, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Initial reporting, not just the VCS but also CBS, NBC and Fox, did state the woman was his girlfriend but that's not really the point here, is it? A man is dead because some dumbass drunk had his ego knocked down a notch. Yes, it's a hit and run. It also seems to be deliberate as the different medias report it was an alley and the driver had to make a U-turn to get away.

This tragic story is in our paper because a county resident was killed outside of our county, so let's not argue about how "horrible" Ventura County is. If you don't like where you live then it is on you to either help fix it or get out. I don't care how long you have lived here and I don't care that you won't get the thousands of dollars (which weren't yours to begin with) for your home - if you are that unhappy, nothing will change your feelings unless you leave. Plain and simple.

My condolences to the Zarate family during this tragic time.

Posted by tanknows on May 5, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tknudsen may be bitter, but the fact remains jkaspr,genndan and missSidekick. In reading this story, sad to say, you wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if it had happened in El Rio or South Oxnard. Just admit it. The truth will set you free. All the best.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 5, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How did this story going from giving the grieving family condolences into bashing each other? Please lets have respect for the family !

Posted by Shipfaced on May 5, 2008 at 6:33 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by turchotk on May 5, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AnnaWhaat: Its a completely legitimate question to ask regarding this tragedy. Yes we grieve, but why aren't more people upset that this exact type of crime is happening in our own back yard? It's really bringing this County down. Daylight drive by shootings in El Rio are just the latest round of problems that I have read about. Something has to be done.

Posted by jill on May 5, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shipfaced,

Maybe "women love to talk," but men do the hit and runs and violent stuff.

Posted by genndan on May 5, 2008 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tanknows:
Do you know personally know me? No, so don't lump me in your general statement of "wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if it had happened in El Rio or South Oxnard. Just admit it." I'm surprised when ANY tragic even occurs, even more so when it is the county I live in. Like my post said, and so does the story, this a man from Oxnard who died elsewhere. I still don't see the correlation between Anaheim and Oxnard. But that's not the point. My post clearly states that if you don't like where you live, do something about it or get out. Constant b!tching doesn't do a damn thing. If I didn't like my city or my county, I would have left a long time ago. And I have no problems admitting that.

Posted by mmshoot on May 6, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AnnaWhaat, I'm sorry but such sympathies might be expressed better to families and friends at services, funerals, or guest registries than in this forum. They might even have one for this case in the Obits section. I've expressed mine a couple of times there.

The crime issue is important in this forum to Venturans.

Posted by mmshoot on May 6, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PS I agree with you about the personal insults, though Anna. It looks like Shipfaced has shipped out.

Posted by Relvd98 on May 6, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wonder what the status is on these cowards who did this; any suspects, leads, anything?

Posted by Face on May 6, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would much rather live in good climate and die at the hands of scum who are my neighbors. All those who bash California are just afraid of dying violently, let them go to some other state and leave us to our Urinators in peace.

Posted by turchotk on May 6, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does genndan even read the paper? Todays paper...Port Hueneme girl mugged by six offenders for her cell phone. End of subject. End of story. The issue is crime here folks. Crime on a huge scale and horrific scale in our own backyard. Huemene, El Rio and yes Anaheim.

Posted by genndan on May 6, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

turchotk, I read the paper just like everyone else, what's your point? Are you pissy because I didn't post on that story? Sorry to ruin your day.

Did I state ANYWHERE that our county is perfect? NO. Maybe you should re-read the comments. I know there is crime here, it's everywhere. I also don't sit here, behind my computer, behind an alias, spouting off about how bad it is here. My posts are plain and simple - get out if you aren't happy. B!tching about how bad crime is isn't going to change it.

Posted by Face on May 6, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I fail to see how your b----ing about the b----ing helps either. Want to hear my solution? It is radical, you wouldn't like it, then you would provide no solution. So why waste my time? We live with the illusion of choice, but either choice leaves us in the same situation. But you sleep better at night thinking you are doing the right thing. Take the red pill, then wake up and believe whatever you want to believe.

Posted by rbreton59 on May 7, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There are some real idiots out there posting comments, you know who your dumb asses are

Posted by mmshoot on May 7, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chronic BSing is a disease.

Posted by genndan on May 7, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Opinions are like aholes, we all have them. Can't we just live to accept them and move on to the next article?

Posted by mmshoot on May 7, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope so, genndan, hope so.

Posted by catlover on May 7, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a horrible murder. Not that other murders are not horrible but to run someone over numerous times is sick. I hope this killer gets a life sentence.

Posted by raenas805 on May 7, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

richards family dosent have alot of money i am a close friend of the family and if you would like to donate money you may go to any bank of america and donate any amount under the "richard zarate memeorial fund" acct#0567311781 this is not some scam or if you would like to donate in person there will be car washes going on in ventura,oxnard and in santa paula(my husband and i are putting on with the help of many people) i will be posting more info on here also listen to the vibe 103.3 in the morning for his brother for details. thank you and god bless

Posted by mmshoot on May 8, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

raenas805, I think you meant to say "Richard Zarate Memorial Fund." I hope the account number is correct and would like to know if it is a trust account. Also, what causes/charities the money is intended for. Or is it just for the Zarate family? I wish them well.

Posted by raenas805 on May 8, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mmshoot is the right account number and it is for all the funeral costs, the bills he left behind that the family and his wife cant afford and also for his children all three of them, at 28years old you dont exactly have every thing planned out you know and thanks for respelling my errors i was trying to type fast lol well any thing can help 6,000.00 is alot to raise by this friday but a dollar is a dolar that they didnt have before.

Posted by mmshoot on May 8, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks, raenas805. I'm sure this post will help. We managed to keep it on the "Most Commented" list for several days. An e-mail or letter to the Star would be a good idea, too, but I'm sure you've already thought about that. Good luck to you and the family.

Posted by LivinInPoorMansPV on May 9, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So cal is awesome....ventura sucks. Too bad it is still considered so cal. VTA makes the rest of so cal look bad. Geez ever since I was a kid, VTA was always considered nasty full of homeless, derelicts and druggies, not to mention the good ol HA.

Posted by mirella_jmnz on May 14, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am so sorry for the loss of the Zarate family!! i know how hard it is to lose someone that you love dearly and no matter what the reason was....he is dead and will not be there for his kids and his wife. this was not a hit-and-run it was murder plain and simple!!!May god be with you and your family!!!