Thomas Christensen, 21, was arrested after shooting at least nine shots into the air on the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde Road. Brett Harris, 22, was arrested after a long standoff with police because he refused to leave the residence to which the shooter retired after firing the shots from the street.
This reporter witnessed the incident first hand and relayed all information to law enforcement. At 1:12 a.m. the shots were fired, and then Christensen ducked back inside the apartment at 6573 Sabado. Seconds later, police were on the scene establishing a perimeter around the property and evacuating neighbors.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office, during this time Christensen tried to climb out of the window and was immediately arrested, then questioned at the Isla Vista Foot Patrol offices. The Sheriff’s statement said one of his roommates showed up at the scene and was also interviewed. Christensen was booked on charges of carrying a loaded firearm which he did not own, and for shooting a firearm with gross negligence.
Bret Harris was observed in the residence, and would not comply with officers’ request to come out until around 6 a.m. The special enforcement team was called, including armored trucks and police dogs. At around 4 a.m., officers detonated a flash bang grenade and told Harris to surrender over a loudspeaker. When he finally left the house he was booked for resisting arrest.
Several firearms and ammunition were recovered at the residence. Christensen’s bail was set at $35,000 and Harris’s at $2,500.