Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced on April 6, 2026, that Jose Antonio Jimenez a 32-year-old-man from Oxnard, has been charged with murder for the 2014 killing of Labh Nigah. Jimenez made an appearance in court and had his arraignment continued to April 28, 2026. Jimenez is charged with one count of murder and three special allegations: personally, using a knife in the commission of the offense, that the killing involved great violence, and the victim was particularly vulnerable.
On November 13, 2014, at approximately 8:43 a.m., Oxnard Police Department officers responded to a report of a battery victim in Sierra Linda Park. Officers located Nigah, a 55-year-old Oxnard resident, suffering from stab wounds along a walking path near Indigo Place. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed the manner of death as homicide.
Detectives determined that Nigah had just walked his son to a nearby elementary school before being attacked in broad daylight. The killing occurred in a public park adjacent to the school while it was in session and was witnessed by individuals in the park as well as nearby school staff and students. Authorities believe the attack was random.
The case remained unsolved for more than eleven years despite extensive investigative efforts, including witness interviews, public appeals for information, and forensic testing. Evidence collected at the scene, including DNA, was entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but no match was identified at the time.
In recent years, investigators from the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, Ventura County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation utilized advances in DNA technology to develop new leads. Through this process, detectives identified Jimenez as a suspect.
On April 2, 2026, detectives served an arrest warrant at a residence in Oxnard and took Jimenez into custody without incident.
“This was an ambush and a brutal crime committed in broad daylight against a completely unsuspecting victim,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “While nothing can undo the harm caused to Mr. Nigah’s family, the arrest and filing of charges represents an important step toward accountability. This case is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners and the power of advancing forensic technology to deliver justice, no matter how much time has passed.”
Nigah was a husband and father of three who worked as a clerk at a local convenience store. He was described by his family as a hardworking and dedicated provider who prioritized his children’s education and future.
This case was investigated by the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, Ventura County Crime Lab, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. Senior Deputy District Attorney Amber Lee is prosecuting the case.
Jimenez’s next court date is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court. Jimenez remains in custody and prosecutors successfully argued that bail should be increased. The court raised his bail to $1 million.