[UPDATE, 5/12, 7:15 a.m.]: Two suspects are in custody following a shooting Monday evening on the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde in Isla Vista that left two male UCSB students with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident came almost exactly a year after six UCSB students were killed in a shooting and stabbing massacre in the seaside college community.
The Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday morning that two gang members — 19-year-old Jose Gutierrez of Goleta and 22-year-old James Taylor of Lompoc — had arrived at approximately 7:15 p.m. to an Isla Vista apartment complex for reasons that are still unclear.
The two male UCSB students lived in the Sabado apartment; they knew Gutierrez. Some time after he and Taylor arrived, a fight broke out over what may have been drug-related matters, Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover said. Hoover could not confirm the case was drug-related, but said that the department is investigating it as a possibility.
After the fight, the students’ roommates were able to hold down Taylor while Gutierrez fled the scene and drove off in what witnesses said was a white four-door sedan. Gutierrez fled east on Sabado, Hoover said, and was last seen driving north on Ocean Road. Taylor sustained head wounds during the fight and was transported to the hospital; his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
According to Hoover, the two students sustained “what is being characterized as gunshot wounds” — one suffered a “transverse wound” to his abdomen and the other had a “through and through wound” in his upper left chest. Both victims were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and are expected to survive.
A little while later, Gutierrez drove himself to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital with injuries he told medics he received in a car accident on the UCSB campus. According to Hoover, he was transferred to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital “due to the nature of his injuries”; Hoover did not elaborate on what the injuries were. The Sheriff’s investigation traced Gutierrez to the crime scene and found that he sustained the wounds during the fight in the apartment complex on Sabado.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, Taylor and Gutierrez remain in custody at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Once they are released from the hospital, they will be booked in County Jail. They are charged with attempted murder, robbery, discharge of a firearm in the commission of a felony causing great bodily injury, and participation in a criminal street gang. Gutierrez was also charged with possession of a stolen firearm.
Hoover said the investigation is ongoing; detectives are looking into the motive and the circumstances surrounding the case.
[UPDATE, 9:05 p.m.]:UCSB’s Crime Alert system just issued the following message: “The shelter in place and lock-down has been lifted. The areas of Isla Vista and campus have been cleared. There is currently a person of interest detained with Law Enforcement. If there is anyone with information on this incident, you are encouraged to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.”
[UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.]: Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover confirmed three people were injured in some kind of “domestic disturbance” where gunshots were heard outside a residence in the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde at around 7:15 p.m. tonight.
Hoover said one of the injured people is likely a suspect in the incident, and that a second suspect remains at-large. She declined to state whether the victims and possible suspect were shot, explaining the situation remains very fluid. Hoover said she could not address rumors that a pellet gun was used in the disturbance.
The condition of the three individuals at the hospital is unknown. Hoover said when responding deputies arrived at the scene, it was clear all three needed immediate medical attention.
As authorities continue to search for who they believe is a second suspect, Hoover advised Isla Vista residents to remain indoors and asked everyone else to avoid the area.
[UPDATE, 8:40 p.m.]: UCSB’s Housing and Residential Services department just posted this message to its Facebook page: “Due to the events that happened on Sabado Tarde all residence halls are locked down. Please carry your access card and stay indoors. If you are distressed by these events please contact the 24 hours CAPS line: (805) 893-4411. Stay safe #UCSB #Gauchos!”
[UPDATE, 8:32 p.m.]: According to social media posts and emergency radio traffic, a possible suspect has been transported to Goleta Cottage Hospital with injuries. No other information has been provided by the Sheriff’s Office, which is the lead law enforcement agency responding the to incident.
[UPDATE, 8:16 p.m.]: A UCSB Crime Alert email sent to students states a Hispanic male fled the area and was last seen driving toward Highway 217.
[ORIGINAL REPORT, 5/11, 7:45 p.m.]: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a shooting on the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde in Isla Vista, the student community next to UCSB that suffered a shooting and stabbing rampage nearly one year ago. Details are so far sketchy, but initial reports and scanner chatter suggest three people are injured and that law enforcement is still searching for the suspect, who may be injured and carrying two guns. He reportedly fled in a four-door white sedan.
UCSB’s Daily Nexus is reporting that an eyewitness said two men tried to rob a home at 6515 Sabado Tarde, but that residents fought back and subdued one of the assailants. Students are being advised to stay indoors.