Community stunned by tragic death
by Kelly Feser Eells

A Casitas Springs man, 43-year-old Michael Back, succumbed to injuries suffered in an accidental shooting Tuesday night. Back, after hearing noises outside his Park View Drive home, placed a .22 caliber handgun in his waistband and stepped outside to investigate. According to a preliminary report filed by Ventura County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Ron Nelson, the gun accidentally discharged, "hitting Back in the leg area."
The victim was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where, despite undergoing several hours' of extensive surgery, he was pronounced dead early Wed. morning.
Ojai Police Dept. dispatcher Belinda Williams acknowledged that, while "our station did respond," the incident is in the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Major Crimes unit. Although, "it appears it has been deemed an accidental shooting."
Residents of this tiny community expressed surprise about the incident, having heard, in the words of Association to Bypass Casitas founder Steve Durfee, "absolutely nothing about it."
Amanda Oakley of Nye Rd. said, "that's weird. You'd think that, at the least, we would've heard the sirens" (responding to the scene Tuesday night.) But we didn't hear a thing about it, no sirens, nothing at all. How strange."
Gary Cross knew "nothing about any shooting," and Durfee, though he hadn't known Back, was saddened to learn that a neighbor had died. "You mean he didn't survive?" Durfee asked, shaking his head. "That's awful, just awful."
The investigation, per Major Crimes unit detectives, is continuing.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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