Arrests in Westside Knife Attack

Santa Barbara police have made three arrests stemming from an attack that happened more than two years ago, and at least one of the suspects is no stranger to trouble..

Two 17-year-olds and a 19-year-old were arrested on charges connected to a September 2007 stabbing on the Westside. The arrests followed a two-year investigation, using information developed in the aftermath of last year’s Operation Gator Roll, a gang roundup by regional law enforcement.

The victim, a Westside resident who was 17 at the time, was walking home from playing basketball when a car pulled up and several people jumped out, according to police. They stabbed him more than 30 times in the neck and torso, then fled the area. The victim was able to stagger to his residence a block away before collapsing outside. The victim survived; his attackers appeared to have gotten clean away.

The vicious attack came in the midst of several others, and not long after two deaths-by-stabbing in Santa Barbara involving alleged gang members. Detectives, according to Lt. Paul McCaffrey, were able to use avenues opened during Operation Gator Roll investigations to garner credible information about the attack.

One of the 17-year-olds was already in custody on a murder charge for a July 2007 attack that killed Lorenzo Carachure. He is also facing charges for a recent assault in Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall and for jumping-in a gang member. His next court hearing in the Carachure case is November 23. The other two are also now in custody – the younger one in Juvenile Hall and the 19-year-old in County Jail. They face charges of attempted murder.