Update by the edhat staff
November 7, 2024

On the evening of November 5, 2024, while still hospitalized, the 18-year-old victim in this case succumbed to his injuries sustained in the shooting. He has been identified as Robert Estrada, an 18-year-old resident of Nipomo.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has filed murder charges and four counts of attempted murder against Casey Pacheco Hernandez and his son, Casey Hernandez Jr., both of whom remain in custody.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced Wednesday that charges have been filed against 42-year-old Casey Jose Pacheco Hernandez and his son, 19-year-old Casey Junior Hernandez..

Both men are charged with one count of Murder for the death of Robert Estrada and four counts of Attempted Murder for four additional victims. Casey Pacheco Hernandez is also charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

It is alleged that both men personally discharged a firearm causing death and great bodily injury during the commission of the Murder and Attempted Murders, according to Savrnoch.

Both Defendants were arraigned on the criminal complaint in Santa Maria Superior Court on November 6, 2024, in Department 9. Both entered not guilty pleas to all charges and denied all allegations.

The Defendants are being held in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail, without bail. The case has been set for a Preliminary Hearing Setting on November 14, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Department 8 of the Santa Maria Superior Court in front of the Honorable Judge Denise Hippach.

Detective Brian Santiago is leading the investigation for the Santa Maria Police Department and Deputy District Attorney Austin Ingalls is leading the prosecution team.

Father and Son Arrested for Shooting Two Teens at Santa Maria Restaurant

By the Santa Maria Police Department
November 3, 2024

In the early hours of Friday, November 1, 2024, at approximately 12:46 AM, officers from the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) responded to reports of gunfire at a fast food restaurant located in the 400 block of E. Betteravia Rd.

An altercation between two groups had escalated into a shooting, resulting in two victims sustaining gunshot wounds. An 18-year-old male is in critical condition, while 17-year-old male sustained injuries that are not life-threatening. Both were transported to Marian Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The SMPD Detective Bureau and Crime Lab responded to the scene and detectives took over the investigation, which remained highly active. Detectives have identified two suspects in connection with the shooting: 41-year-old Casey Jose Pacheco Hernandez of Santa Maria and his 19-year-old son, Casey Hernandez Junior, from Oceano, CA.

On November 1, 2024, at around 1:39 PM, the Detective Bureau, supported by the SWAT team, executed a warrant service operation at Pacheco Hernandez’s Santa Maria residence, where he was taken into custody. Hernandez Junior was also apprehended later, around 6:30 PM, in Oceano, where Detectives and the SWAT team conducted a second warrant service operation.

The vehicle reportedly used during the crime was found abandoned in Santa Maria and has since been secured as evidence.

Both suspects were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of attempted murder, with bail set at $2 million. SMPD detectives, along with a Victim Witness advocate, are actively providing support to the victims’ families.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Violent Crimes Unit Detective Brian Santiago at (805) 928-3781, ext. 1362.