sbsheriff
Update by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
March 4, 2024
Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a second juvenile for the knife attack on February 27, 2024, and are seeking the public’s assistance for any additional information.
On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at approximately 1:32 p.m., deputies responded to the Turnpike Shopping Center for a report of a fight in progress. When they arrived, deputies found a male juvenile victim with a laceration to his hand. Additional juveniles who were involved in the altercation fled prior to deputies’ arrival.
At approximately 2:08 p.m., deputies contacted a male juvenile on Hollister, west of Turnpike Road who matched the description of a suspect involved in the assault. The 15-year-old male juvenile was found to be in possession of a concealed fixed blade knife. He was cited for the concealed knife as well as possession of a knife on school campus and released to a guardian. His case has been forwarded to juvenile probation.
Through their investigation, deputies identified a separate 15-year-old male juvenile as the primary suspect in the knife attack. Deputies authored an arrested warrant for this juvenile, and it was approved by a judge. On Thursday, February 29, 2024, at approximately 11:35 a.m., deputies located the juvenile in the 100-block of S. Turnpike Road and arrested him on the warrant. The juvenile was booked at the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall for attempted murder.
Deputies believe there were additional juveniles involved in this attack and are reaching out to ask anyone with information to contact deputies at (805)681-4100. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can provide information by calling our tip line at (805)681-4171 or SBSheriff.org.
Juvenile Arrested for Knife Attack in Turnpike Shopping Center Prompting Lockdown at San Marcos High School
By the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
3:40 p.m., February 27, 2024
Deputies have arrested a juvenile for a knife attack that has left another juvenile with injuries.
On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at approximately 1:32 p.m., deputies responded to the Turnpike Shopping Center for a report of a fight in progress. When they arrived, deputies found a male juvenile victim with a laceration to his hand. Additional juveniles who were involved in the altercation fled prior to deputies’ arrival.
Due to the proximity to campus and the seriousness of the crime they were actively investigating, deputies requested that San Marcos High School initiate “Secure” protocol. Students were directed to get inside and lock outside doors. The Standardized Response Protocol was recently adopted in a collaborative effort between area schools and law enforcement agencies to clearly identify protective actions to be taken during volatile or evolving situations.
At approximately 2:08 p.m., deputies contacted a male juvenile suspect on Hollister, west of Turnpike Road who matched the description of a suspect involved in the assault. The juvenile suspect was positively identified and subsequently arrested and the “Secure” was lifted at San Marcos High School.
The disposition of the juvenile is pending at the time of this press release. The victim was released to his guardians and will be seeking medical attention on his own. This investigation remains ongoing.
Lockdown Lifted at San Marcos High School, Deputies Investigating Nearby Incident
By the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
2:23 p.m., February 27, 2024
San Marcos High School SECURE has been lifted. Campus can return to regular schedule.
Info to follow soon- deputies are still working in the area.
San Marcos High School on Lockdown, Active Police Incident Nearby
By the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
1:57 p.m., February 27, 2024
San Marcos High School is under SECURE protocol. Students are directed to get inside and lock outside doors. Deputies have an active incident NEAR the school – not on campus. Updates to follow…
Reported by Bob on the Scanner
1:40 p.m., February 27, 2024
SB Sheriff’s Deputies are on the scene of a reported stabbing near the Hollister Ave and Turnpike intersection. This is by the Rusty’s Pizza.
Suspect was last seen running towards San Marcos High. School locked down.
It’s a great neighborhood and school.
It is a shame this happened but it is not at all typical of or indicative of the nature of the San Marcos student body which are 99.9999% good kids. Yes, really. And the Turnpike neighborhood is a nice heighborhood; shopping in that area feels safe and is safe. The staff of the anchor tenant are on their toes and it is rare taht there is ever any trouble. This was true going back to the days that the Goleta Coffee COmpany was there and a lot of students hung out, which is not the case anymore. Hopefully, we won’t be seeing or hearing about anything like this, going forward.
SMHS has a long history of fights on campus, they are not new and there are often sheriff dept vehicles on campus. I’ve had children attend that school over the past 20 years and they can attest to the fact that there are regular gang-related fights on campus. When my daughter was going, in 2012-2016, she said it was pretty much a normal daily thing that most kids just ignored and walked past.
It IS a safe neighborhood and most of the kids are NOT involved but the amount of gang related fights on campus has always concerned me, especially with how open it is there and how easy it is for anyone to just walk onto campus during the school day.
Wow a 664/187 for what seems to be a clear 245(a1)?? Heavy charge, carries a life sentence in California. I wish kids would put the weapons down. They’re still banging even after all the examples people that have gone and “sat down” before them. Possibly have the mindset that they “made it” once they hit the State.
True. An attempted murder charge for a cut hand in a fight? Seems pretty heavy handed (no pun intended), especially for a 15 year old. There must have been other factors for them to escalate from assault with a deadly weapon to attempted murder.