CAMARILLO, Calif. — Real-time license plate tracking technology enabled patrol deputies to intercept and arrest two teenagers accused ofRamming a motorcycle and brandishing automatic weapons during a harrowing road rage incident, law enforcement officials announced.
The major violent crime investigation was conducted by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Camarillo Patrol Services unit alongside the Camarillo Investigations Bureau and the Sheriff's Advanced Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC).
Authorities identified the adult suspect as 18-year-old Gavyn Ghassedi, listed as a transient. The secondary suspect was identified as a 17-year-old female juvenile residing in Camarillo.
The violent encounter occurred on Saturday, September 5, 2026, under official sheriff's report number 26-116672.
Highway Offramp Road Rage, Vehicle Ramming, and Rifle Brandishing
According to an official media advisory released by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the incident originated at the Northbound US-101 Freeway offramp at Las Posas Road in Camarillo.
Witnesses contacted 911 emergency dispatchers to report an escalating road rage dispute between the occupants of a black Mercedes sedan and a motorcyclist. Callers reported that the driver of the Mercedes was maneuvering aggressively and intentionally trying to run over the motorcycle.
As the vehicles traveled toward the intersection of East Ponderosa Drive and Rosewood Avenue, witnesses observed both the driver and the front seat passenger of the Mercedes pointing a black assault rifle directly at the motorcyclist.
Moments later, the Mercedes intentionally collided with the motorcycle. The driver of the Mercedes then fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
Deputies and paramedics arrived shortly after the collision. The motorcycle rider miraculously escaped physical injury and was evaluated and released at the scene.
ALPR Interception at Fast-Food Drive-Thru and Automatic Weapons Seizure
Following the hit-and-run collision, operators at the Sheriff’s Advanced Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC) deployed Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera networks situated across Camarillo to track the fleeing vehicle.
Using historic ALPR images and vehicle registration databases, ARTIC personnel identified the license plate and registered owner details of the black Mercedes.
Within minutes, ARTIC guided responding patrol deputies to the 1600 block of East Daily Drive, where the suspect vehicle was spotted idling inside a Jack in the Box fast-food drive-thru lane.
Patrol deputies swarmed the fast-food location and executed a high-risk traffic stop, taking Ghassedi and the 17-year-old female passenger into custody without incident.
During a systematic search of the black Mercedes, deputies uncovered a dangerous weapons cache hidden inside the passenger compartment:
- Two Fully Automatic Assault Rifles: Unregistered "ghost guns" lacking serial numbers, modified for fully automatic fire
- One Handgun: Unregistered "ghost gun" pistol lacking serial numbers
- Loaded Magazines: High-capacity feeding devices and ammunition
"Witnesses to the incident called Sheriff’s Dispatch and reported the driver of the Mercedes was trying to intentionally run into the motorcycle. Witnesses also reported seeing the driver and front passenger of the Mercedes both pointing a black assault rifle at the victim," the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detailed in a public advisory prepared by Detective Timothy Behrend.
"During a search of the Mercedes, two assault rifles and a pistol were recovered. Both assault rifles were determined to be fully automatic 'ghost guns' with no serial numbers. The pistol was also a 'ghost gun' with no serial number," public safety officials added.
Arrest Charges, Booking Status, and Investigator Contacts
Both Ghassedi and the female juvenile were placed under arrest and face a sweeping list of felony firearm, assault, and conspiracy charges under the California Penal Code:
- PC 32625: Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun / Automatic Weapon (Felony)
- PC 30605: Illegal Possession of an Assault Weapon (Felony)
- PC 245(a)(4): Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony)
- PC 417(2)(B): Brandishing a Firearm (Misdemeanor/Felony)
- PC 25850(c)(6): Carrying a Loaded, Unregistered Firearm in Public (Felony)
- PC 29180: Possession of a Firearm Without a Serial Number / Ghost Gun (Felony)
- PC 27545: Unlawful Transfer of a Firearm (Felony)
- PC 182(a)(1): Criminal Conspiracy (Felony)
Ghassedi was transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura, where he remains incarcerated in lieu of $50,000 bail. The 17-year-old female juvenile was transported and lodged at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard pending juvenile court proceedings.
Sheriff's officials noted that no booking photograph of Ghassedi has been approved for public release at this time.
Detectives are investigating the origin of the untraceable "ghost guns" and evaluating whether the firearms are connected to other violent crimes across Ventura County.
Members of the public with additional details regarding this road rage incident are encouraged to contact lead Detective Timothy Behrend at (805) 797-7096 or Detective Meagan Smiley at (805) 561-4080.
Anonymous information can also be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), where tips leading to an arrest and criminal complaint may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Official releases can be accessed on the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Official Nixle Portal.