Julie Bifano

The Via Gennita home where a shooting allegedly happened this morning.

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Residents of the San Antonio Creek Road area preparing for their day this morning were interrupted with the sound of gunshots. Police officers and Sheriff’s deputies arrived at 4621 Via Gennita in response to an 8 a.m. disturbance call from Carol George, wife of 64-year-old Don George, said Deputy Sheriff Bill Caldwell. According to a report issued later today by Sheriff’s Department spokesman Erik Raney, deputies located Donald George on the back porch of his house. When they saw that he was holding a gun, they reportedly told him to drop it. According to Raney’s report, Donald George refused and deputies then fired at him, shooting him several times. The man later died in surgery at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Raney noted that investigators are currently looking into the circumstances leading up to the shooting and whether deputies at the scene acted according to policy. As of press time, Raney was unable to say how many shots were fired, the names of the involved deputies, and other such details.

According to a witness who wished to remain anonymous, at some point in the ordeal, Carol George ran across the street to her neighbor’s house while Don George stood in front of the house holding a gun. Other witnesses claimed the shooting happened in the backyard.

Sandy Briar, a Via Gennita resident, said he heard five gunshots around 8 a.m. while he was going outside to get the daily newspaper. “Don was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. It wasn’t a good prognosis. He didn’t want to see anybody and he was angry at the way the tumor impaired his speech,” Briar said. The Georges have lived in their home—the presumable crime scene—for around 20 years.

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