After more than eleven years, the brutal killing of an Oxnard father has moved toward resolution.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced on April 6, 2026, that Jose Antonio Jimenez, 32, has been officially charged with the 2014 murder of Labh Nigah.
The case dates back to the morning of November 13, 2014.
At approximately 8:43 a.m., Nigah, a 55-year-old convenience store clerk and father of three, was attacked along a walking path in Sierra Linda Park. The assault occurred just moments after Nigah had finished walking his son to a nearby elementary school.
Authorities describe the killing as a "random ambush" committed in broad daylight.
The attack took place while the adjacent school was in session and was witnessed by several people in the park, as well as school staff and students. Despite the public nature of the crime and an immediate response from the Oxnard Police Department, Nigah died at the scene from multiple stab wounds.
For over a decade, the investigation stalled. Although DNA evidence was collected at the scene and entered into the FBI’s CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), no matches were identified at the time.
The breakthrough finally came through the collaboration of the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit, and the FBI, utilizing advancements in DNA technology to develop new leads.
This modern forensic process successfully identified Jimenez as the primary suspect. On April 2, 2026, detectives served a warrant at an Oxnard residence and took Jimenez into custody without incident.
Jimenez is currently facing one count of murder with three special allegations:
- Personal use of a knife.
- The crime involved "great violence."
- The victim was "particularly vulnerable."
During a recent court appearance, prosecutors successfully argued for a bail increase, which the court raised to $1 million. Jimenez remains in custody and is scheduled for an arraignment on April 28, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
District Attorney Nasarenko praised the "unwavering commitment" of law enforcement, stating that while the charges cannot undo the harm to the Nigah family, they represent a vital step toward accountability for a hardworking man who was simply trying to provide a future for his children.