VIOLENCE INVADES UNWARY 'SAFEST' CITIES.Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer SANTA ROSA Santa Rosa, city, Argentina Santa Rosa, city (1991 pop. 80,629), capital of La Pampa prov., central Argentina. It is a modern city and road junction surrounded by a rich agricultural and cattle-raising area. VALLEY - When Rosemary Allison heard police sirens from her home Tuesday morning, she had no idea that a brutal crime was taking place just blocks away. ``Like everyone else, we thought it was a traffic accident,'' said the real estate agent and mother of three. ``Nobody in a million years would have thought this would have happened in our community. It makes you realize you can't protect yourself against everything.'' The two-day killing spree that ended Tuesday when career criminal Toby Whelchel shot himself at a Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Wal-Mart rattled the nerves of this upscale neighborhood and others throughout eastern Ventura County. Long considered among the safest cities in the nation, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. and Simi Valley learned that even the most crime-free neighborhoods are not immune to violence. The 16-hour rampage ran from Thousand Oaks, through Camarillo's Santa Rosa Valley and Simi Valley, and left three people dead and five others injured. One of the dead was Carole Nordella, 48, a mother of three who spent years with her husband Jeffrey Nordella building their multimillion-dollar dream home on Rocky High Road in the Santa Rosa Valley area. ``Violence occurs everywhere,'' said Sheriff Bob Brooks. ``No community is immune from it.'' Simi Valley City Councilman Glen Becerra said the communities should not be judged on ``single, senseless, violent acts.'' Thousand Oaks and neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. Simi Valley, with a population of more than 100,000, usually compete for the coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. title of safest city in America. ``You need to look at these communities in their totality,'' Becerra said. ``They are generally very safe and a great place to live. But it's a reminder that no community is crime-free and we should never take our safety for granted. ``It does shake a community when things like this happen in wonderful places. It's never easy.'' The deadly spree began Monday afternoon in Thousand Oaks when Whelchel, 38, shot and killed attorney Steven Mazin, 52, and Janice Heyne, 50. A third victim, Janice's husband, Timothy Heyne, 51, was wounded. The violence continued Tuesday morning. After dumping a white Ford 150 pickup truck he stole in Thousand Oaks on Monday, Whelchel broke into the home of Carole and Jeffrey Nordella to hijack another car, officials said. There, he shot and killed Carole Nordella and pistol-whipped her two children, ages 10 and 14, who remain hospitalized. The family's pool maintenance man also was beaten in the attack. Marcus Anthony of Camarillo said he was driving his 5-year-old daughter to school when he came across the shootout Shootout Venture capital jargon. Refers to two or more venture capital firms fighting for the startup. in the Santa Rosa Valley. ``I told her bad people do bad things, but not to worry, she's safe with me,'' he said. ``People around here are shocked. We've lived here 21 years. This is a very affluent and peaceful community.'' That was the reason Carole Nordella moved out of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , said her sister, Robin Brooks. ``They were looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a peaceful, pretty community ... a good, Christian community,'' she said. ``And they found it. I think that it's man's sins that cause these kind of things to happen.'' John Short, a friend of Tim Heyne, said the couple was at the wrong place at the wrong time. ``It's pretty tragic because if they had stopped to put gas (in the car) or taken one more lap in the lake with the boat, this wouldn't have happened.'' Angie Valencia-Martinez, (805) 583-7604 angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) The Nordella family and others who live near them in a gated community gat·ed community n. A subdivision or neighborhood, often surrounded by a barrier, to which entry is restricted to residents and their guests. in Camarillo's Santa Rosa Valley felt safe - until a killer intruded in·trude v. in·trud·ed, in·trud·ing, in·trudes v.tr. 1. To put or force in inappropriately, especially without invitation, fitness, or permission: in their quiet, well-ordered lives. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer (2) NORDELLA |
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