Killer of Ventura Man, 26, Sought

Ventura police were searching Thursday for the killer of a 26-year-old man shot about a block from his home the night before.

Ryan Jason Briner was shot about 11:25 p.m. Wednesday in the 7200 block of Wolverine Street on the city’s west side, authorities said. He was pronounced dead a short time later from shotgun wounds to the torso, said Craig Stevens, a deputy county coroner.

No motive is known. However, authorities don’t believe the shooting was gang-related, according to Ventura Police Sgt. Sean Conroy.

Friends and family members were puzzled by Briner’s slaying. His sister, Amy, said that he had gone out alone for a walk shortly before the shooting. However, she declined to elaborate, saying only that police were still investigating.

She said her brother wasn’t employed but had previously worked as a server at several local restaurants and had attended Ventura College with an eye toward majoring in criminal justice. She said he loved to surf, skateboard and play the guitar.

A native of Mission Viejo, Ryan Briner had lived all over the world as part of a military family, his sister said. More recent travels included a millennium trip to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, she said.

A next-door neighbor, Ray Beeson, said that Briner was a 1996 graduate of Buena High School.

Beeson said he was “a sweetheart of a guy” who had been considering going back to college in Texas.

A memorial is planned at 1 p.m. on Monday at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Beeson said.

Briner’s death was the year’s first homicide in Ventura, and the 16th in the county.