Pomona man denies murder charge in Ontario shooting death

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A 30-year-old Pomona man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot and killed a man last week in Ontario.

Omar Jafet Ruiz is accused of shooting Vincent Mejia, 33, several times in the chest Jan. 29 in a parking lot of the Carmel at the Colony apartment complex at 2550 East Riverside Drive.

Ruiz, a reputed gang member, appeared in West Valley Superior Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to murder. He remains jailed in lieu of $1.75 million bail, and is next due in court Tuesday.

According to police reports attached to Ruiz's court file, Ruiz may have shot Mejia because of death threats Mejia, of West Covina, reportedly made against Ruiz and the mother of Ruiz's child.

One of Mejia's friends told police that he witnessed the shooting when he went to the apartment complex to meet Mejia for breakfast.

After arriving at the complex at about 8 a.m., the friend told police he called and sent a text message to Mejia to let him know he arrived.

When Mejia left the complex about two minutes later and walked to his car, he was followed by Ruiz. The two began arguing face to face, the witness told police.

The witness told detectives he attempted to separate the men, but after Mejia called Ruiz a "bitch," Ruiz lifted his shirt and took out a handgun he had concealed in his waistband.

"What are you going to do with that?" Mejia told Ruiz, according to the witness.

Ruiz then shot Mejia in the chest between five and seven times, the witness told police. Mejia was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Pomona police arrested Ruiz on suspicion of murder Monday after pulling him over in the area of Garey and Franklin avenues.

Ruiz declined to comment to detectives, according to the police report.

A detective noted in the police report that there was a gold shark bottle opener on Ruiz's key chain. The shark is the symbol of Pomona's 12th Street gang, of which Ruiz is reportedly a member.