Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced today that charges have been amended against 28-year-old Juan Fernando Rios, 30-year-old Sergio Rivas, and 29-year-old Luis Gerardo Terrazo in connection with the stabbings on State Street in the City of Santa Barbara on August 1, 2025.
On August 5, 2025, Mr. Rivas and Mr. Rios were charged with the murder of victim Anthony Bisquera-Hartley, with the special allegations of murdering to benefit a criminal street gang, and the personal use of a knife.
The District Attorney’s Office based those charges on the state of the investigation at that time, which showed that Mr. Bisquera-Hartley was unarmed when he attacked Mr. Rivas and suffered a fatal stab wound at the hands of Mr. Rivas and a non-fatal stab wound at the hands of Mr. Rios.
Since the filing of charges, the District Attorney’s Office received additional video evidence. It determined that, in fact, Mr. Bisquera-Hartley was armed with a knife at the time he attacked Mr. Rivas and that Mr. Rivas acted in lawful self-defense when he stabbed Mr. Bisquera-Hartley. It was also determined that Mr. Rios acted in lawful defense of Mr. Rivas when he stabbed Mr. Bisquera-Hartley.
The District Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue convictions against Mr. Rivas for his assault with a deadly weapon against victim, J. Ramos, with the special allegation of causing great bodily injury as well as for the numerous other firearm-related charges stemming from his arrest, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm in public, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and possession of a loaded firearm while also in possession of cocaine.
The District Attorney’s Office will also continue to pursue convictions against Mr. Rios for the several firearm-related charges in connection with his arrest on July 26, 2025, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Mr. Terrazas was charged with the attempted murder of co-defendant Sergio Rivas, with the special allegations of committing the crime to benefit a criminal street gang and the personal use of a knife.
Based on new information learned by the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Terrazas will instead be charged with assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, with the special allegation of personally using a deadly weapon in the commission of the offense. The District Attorney’s Office also determined that the evidence does not support the filing of gang charges in connection with the crimes committed on August 1, 2025.
All three defendants will be arraigned in Department 12 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
Related Articles
https://www.edhat.com/news/district-attorney-files-charges-against-three-in-connection-with-state-street-stabbing/
https://www.edhat.com/news/three-suspects-arrested-in-fatal-state-street-stabbing-during-fiesta-victims-identity-released/
https://www.edhat.com/news/one-dead-two-injured-in-state-street-stabbing-santa-barbara-police-arrested-one-suspect/
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Randy Rowse has been invisible since he was elected. He promised State Street would be revitalized and he was going to make it a safe space for the community.
Open your eyes. He’s being overwhelmed by the progressive majority on the City Council. He’s not a dictator.
Randy is invisible. You only see him at ribbon cuttings and champagne toasts.
BASIC – are you seriously saying that Randy has lost all ability to speak out publicly or propose solutions? Do you know how cities work? Wait, let me guess….. you were a mayor once too…..
Sure, he could can out harder and he has. Everytime he’s done that he gets pushback from the lefties. It’s a massive uphill battle for him. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed this. Surely, we all including you know that progressives are in charge in the City and County. Cmon man.
“Can out harder”???
What does that mean?
“Come” …. Pretty basic.
Even substituting that word, it makes no sense.
Be specific, what have the “progressives” done to silence or prevent him from speaking out or proposing any ideas? You can’t just always blame the “the lefties” and leave it at that. What did they do to stop him?
Cmon man.
BI is acting like Antifa parachuted down Randy’s chimney and kept his Cocker Spaniel hostage.
I wonder who voted for the councilmen that are keeping Mayor Rouse from cleaning up State Street? Anyone here on this thread by any chance? Sure could not have been me….LOL
What town is this Rouse person the mayor of? Some town near your home in Vegas?
BI so you are saying the lefties silenced Randy and he no longer speaks about things because he is afraid to? Sounds like a weak dude.
Not at all. What I’m saying, and apparently everyone knows this except you, is that he’s a moderate, fiscally-conservative Republican former businessman surrounded by democrats, including some very lefty, progressive types. He has one vote, and one vote only.
Comprende?
Randy never speaks out. He is rarely seen.
“It’s a massive uphill battle for him.” Sounds weak
So BASIC, why has he not spoken out or made any attempt to initiate a solution?
Great! Progress beats stagnation any day.
You think Santa Barbarans being murdered in our streets by felons is progress?
You believe the Mayor of Santa Barbara is responsible for keeping felons in prison?
He’s not even responsible for keeping minor campaign promises….
Absolutely true. That’s a strategy. Improving the quality of life for your constituents takes a lot effort and time. Much easier to engage in nothing or the absolute bare minimum and collect a paycheck. Seen it first hand in local government. Even if the council is “adversarial” his job is to do the hard work to figure out solutions with them. He writes an op ed, he cuts ribbons and shows up at City events, slapping butts and high-fiving with big wigs, and hasn’t accomplished much. He’s no dummy. Actually governing is hard work, and he’s figured out that that’s unnecessary for him in order to collect his check.
He is the lone vote against the rest of the city council. He is the ONLY one trying to straighten out State Street.
Looks like a bunch of gangsters coming in with knives to get into a fight. Hey, you all lost. Crime doesn’t pay.
It sure does – for the orange moron and his cronies.
Nonsense off topic. Good luck.
I have nothing political to say how many of you did Gofund me for the laid back father?
well. Everybody stabbed everybody….its all good.