Shooter kills 1, injures 3 at Simi dental office

Last Wednesday morning, a man wielding a high-powered military-style assault rifle opened fire at a dental office on the west end of Simi Valley, killing one woman and critically wounding three others, police said.

The deceased woman was identified by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's office as Mariela Paredes, 24, of Simi. Simi Police Lt. Paul Fitzpatrick said Thursday that the gunman is Paredes' husband, 30-year-old Jaime Paredes. Investigators are still looking for a motive.

According to Sgt. Adam Darough, dispatch received numerous 911 calls at 10:38 a.m. July 1 from employees inside the Family Dental Care at 495 E. Los Angeles Ave. The employees told police a man was shooting inside the building.

When officers went into the building, they found Mariela Paredes' body. Two females and one male, all Simi residents, sustained serious gunshot wounds: Lydia Carranza, 41; Gloria Castrellon, 37, and Christian Carpio, 18. Carranza was flown to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center via helicopter while the Castrellon and Carpio were taken by ambulance to Simi Valley Hospital.

Police said a fourth person injured her ankle while fleeing the office building.

—Carissa Marsh