[UPDATE]: One person sustained injuries in a stabbing incident at Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
At approximately 4:48 PM, officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department were dispatched to the East Campus of Santa Barbara City College, in the area of the earth and biological sciences building, for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon that had just occurred.
SBCC issued a “timely alert” notification to students and staff at 5:16 p.m. with brief details of the incident and for those on the Cliff campus to shelter in place.
Upon arrival, officers located one victim, an adult male, suffering from non-life-threatening lacerations to his upper body. Santa Barbara Police officers, along with fire department personnel and medics, immediately rendered medical aid to the victim. The victim was subsequently transported to Cottage Hospital for further medical treatment.
Through the preliminary investigation, officers learned that three adult males were involved in a verbal altercation. At some point, the confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, during which one of the males sustained lacerations to his upper body.
The two suspects left towards West Campus Parking Structure and were described as wearing black hoodies and black pants.
Officers conducted an extensive area search based on information obtained from witnesses but were ultimately unable to locate the suspects, the Santa Barbara Police Department stated.
“This incident appears to be isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the public at this time. Based on the initial investigation it does not appear that the incident was related to any Santa Barbara City College school related function,” the police department stated.
“Please do not engage the individuals – If you have any information regarding the incident or the suspects, please call 911, do not approach them,” the alert stated.
Out of an abundance of caution for students and staff, Santa Barbara City College decided to cancel evening classes and close the campus for the remainder of the day.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Santa Barbara Police Department at (805) 897-2371.
[Ed Note: This article includes updates from the Santa Barbara Police Department]
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When I attended SBCC back in the 70’s the school had a huge problem with rapes. Night time classes, pathways through overgrown woods to parking lots and no on campus security. Is there any riving security today?
they have the same now as they did then, campus safety on golf carts and on foot. what can they do? nothing. nothing different than what you or i would do. Call the PD and wait an hour for them to arrive. they can’t detain, arrest, talk firmly, touch any student or person on campus. not kidding.
Considering the amount of money the staff are paid, and some are paid obnoxious amounts of money, i think they can take some pay cuts to appropriate funds for campus security.
Last spring, I prevented a man from attacking a young girl and her dog. She’s my neighbor and friends with my daughter. I stepped between them and took her away from the scene and had the PD and campus safety involved. The man ran when the PD arrived, they chased him to the wharf and a fist fight ensued. He was detained. Then nothing. Not a peep about it on the news. Why? they like to hide things like this from us. I spoke with the sheriff department, and the guy is a registered sex offender and child molester. out on parole. Campus Safety once again was happy i was there to help. The girl is ok, but swore to never step foot on campus again.
I remember when SBCC went nuts, ripping out much of the greenery — because of the rapes. As a longtime SBCC “fossil” student, I heard a couple of firsthand tales of women having to fight off attackers at SBCC and UCSB. Two women at UCSB that I knew were both raped on campus. My sister came home telling me tales of teenage women in her SBCC aerobics classes laughing about partying too hard and ending up s–t-faced drunk and thinking it was hilarious that they had no idea how they got home that night. Years and years later, I rented a space to a 19-year-old UCSB student who was brought home by a complete stranger (female), after my tenant got black-out drunk at some I.V. party. She was one of the lucky ones. I’m really glad you were there for that young girl, to protect her and rescue her from a rapist. Every female should be so fortunate.
Trouble in paradise?
You’re thrilled, I’m sure.
Jealous more like it. I’d be too. Just look how beautiful this town is!
Yeah, go away.
Honestly I doubt ol’ O there is ever really here in SB.
I have gathered email addresses for the right parties and will be writing a somewhat scathing message to them from the community. Over the past year on campus there has been a sexual assault, several fights, thefts, break ins, vandalism, ebike kids ruining the lawns and trails, same kids have broken into the cafeterias on east and west campus, stole items, vandalized property. Homeless people drinking on the trails, homeless people camping in the ravine on west campus, kids lighting fires down there (i was present, video’d it, stopped them and called the PD). Campus “Safety” literally can do nothing as they have been neutered. I asked why cameras were not installed to catch these kids, why there isn’t a contract with the city PD to have an officer on campus (like many schools and campuses do). The answer was, the cost to install cameras and security out weighs the cost to fix things. Wow….so essentially safety isn’t their priority, it’s $$$. I spend a lot of time on campus, my daughter attends school there. My neighbors walk there with their dogs and kids. I have personally called in countless crimes, stopped crimes, reported homeless, assisted in removing them, my kids and i pick up trash around campus and volunteer in the gardens pulling weeds. SBPD response time to SBCC can take over an hour at times. This is a bit much….