Three people have been arrested and charged in connection to the stabbing incident on State Street that left one person dead and two injured during Fiesta week in Santa Barbara.
On Monday, August 4, Santa Barbara Police announced the arrest of a third suspect who was in possession of a loaded firearm. The following day, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney announced charges were filed against the three suspects.
At 12:23 a.m. on Friday, August 1, Santa Barbara Police officers were on foot patrol for Fiesta festivities when they were flagged down by a passersby who reported a man with a knife. At the time of the report, officers were already in the process of assisting an intoxicated subject nearby but immediately broke away to respond to the stabbing in the 500 block of State Street.
Officers observed one victim walking towards them with visible injuries to his torso. Other officers immediately responded to where other witnesses were pointing and located a male victim who collapsed on the ground in front of them with stab wounds to his torso. An additional victim with stab wounds to his torso was found nearby, according to the Police Department.
Emergency aid was rendered to all three victims. Multiple Santa Barbara Fire and AMR ambulance units responded and transported all three victims to Cottage Hospital for further medical treatment.
At 11:45 a.m. Friday, the Santa Barbara Police Department announced that despite life-saving efforts, one victim has died at the hospital as a result of their injuries. The two other victims are in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
The victim has been identified as Anthony Michael Bisquera Hartley who leaves behind three young children.
“If you knew Anthony, you knew him as a goofy, easy going guy. You knew that he was an amazing father who showed up for his children, and worked hard to provide for them. You knew that he was a solid friend and brother/son,” the fundraiser states.
The fundraiser has raised over $30,000 with funds to help his children and mother.
Following the incident, Detectives immediately began processing multiple crime scenes, recovering evidence including knives, clothing, and blood samples, while also conducting a search for additional suspects and victims. Within hours, investigators identified other involved individuals and started making arrests.
One of the injured subjects, Luis Gerado Terrazas, 29, was arrested at the hospital for his involvement. He was eventually booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.
On August 1st, detectives arrested Juan Fernando Rios, 28. On August 2nd, detectives located and arrested Sergio Rivas, 30, in possession of a non-serialized handgun, loaded magazines, and cocaine. Both were booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail.
On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed the following charges:
- Sergio Rivas, Charged with the murder of Anthony Bisquera-Hartley with special allegations of committing the crime to benefit a criminal street gang and personal use of a knife. Also charged with assault with a deadly weapon against victim J. Ramos, gang allegations, and causing great bodily injury. Additional firearm-related charges include 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.
- Juan Fernando Rios, Charged with the murder of Anthony Bisquera-Hartley with special allegations of gang benefit, personal use of a knife, and committing a felony while out on bail for another felony offense. Also faces firearm-related charges from a July 26, 2025 arrest, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
- Luis Gerado Terrazas, Charged with the attempted murder of co-defendant Sergio Rivas, with special allegations of gang benefit and personal use of a knife.
The incident took place during Santa Barbara’s annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta celebrations in the downtown area which historically sees a large increase in foot traffic and visitors from outside the area.
Police maintain this was an isolated act of violence. “The Santa Barbara Police Department worked tirelessly to apprehend the involved suspects and ensure the entire community continued to enjoy Fiesta activities,” SBPD states.
Related Articles
https://www.edhat.com/news/one-dead-two-injured-in-state-street-stabbing-santa-barbara-police-arrested-one-suspect/
https://www.edhat.com/news/district-attorney-files-charges-against-three-in-connection-with-state-street-stabbing/
[Ed Note: This article was updated with new information from the Santa Barbara Police Department and District Attorney’s Office]
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Eventually we’ll learn more but the situation has hand like attributes. It’s terrible that our youth go down this path
As usual, you make no sense.
Dang. I thought it would’ve involved a few teenagers. I guess there are late 20’s and 30-something’s who are still having serious problems getting along with each other in Santa Barbara.
The fact that Juan Fernando Rios had TWO prior convictions for gang related stabbings and was free to roam the streets is mind boggling. The DA and judges responsible for his sentencing have a young father’s blood on their hands. We should be treating people who behave like animals accordingly.
@ SURFGOOSE…. Exactly and well said. You will upset 98% of Ed-hater’s though…
SURFGOOSE – agreed, repeat violent criminals should be incarcerated longer. On the flip side, we can’t imprison everyone for life.
Rios
Stabbed a guy on the pier in 2013, do the math he must’ve been… 15 years old. Stabbed again in 2018 on State Street spent one year in jail. What kind of country, state, city incarcerate someone for stabbing someone on a main street for one year. Just the worst policies ever. Released after one year to stab again and kill someone this time.
It’s just basic common sense. If you say you care about immigrants, you don’t put criminals back in immigrant neighborhoods. These are guys aren’t living in the white neighborhoods. Yes, this happened on State Street, but there is consistent dangerous for immigrant population. These neighborhoods are saturated with criminals.
There’s that latent racism again.
One guy charged as a gangsta assaulting another guy charged as a gangsta suggests that the angelic deceased (ergo uncharged) party was also a gangsta. Don’t you just love them gangsats!
ok boomer
That, my friend, was a good one!….Now I can’t get the Geto Boys song, “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” out of my head.