One man is in custody and another remains on the loose following the killing of a Santa Maria man last month on Highway 166.

On Nov. 13, the body of 26-year-old Margarito Ventura was found on Highway 166 near Suey Creek Road, about 4 miles from Highway 101.

California Highway Patrol spokesperson Jordan Richards confirmed to The Tribune that Ventura was found in the roadway with gunshot wounds.

Richards said 23-year-old Abel Angel Santiago, a suspected accomplice, was arrested on Nov. 29. On Dec. 2, Santiago was charged with accessory to murder in relation to the crime, records show. He pleaded not guilty the following day and has his next court hearing on Dec. 15.

Richards could not expand on what actions Santiago allegedly took that led to the accessory charge but did say the agency was still looking for the shooter.

CHP investigators declined to name the suspected killer at this time, Richards said, but court records did appear to identify the man as Francisco Angel Santiago. It is unclear at this time whether the two men are related.

Abel Angel Santiago allegedly knew Francisco Angel Santiago committed the killing and harbored, concealed and aided Francisco Angel Santiago “with the intent that he might avoid and escape from arrest, trial, conviction and punishment,” according to the criminal complaint filed in court.

Richards said the shooter remained at large as of Tuesday morning, but he added that the agency is working diligently to find him.

On Nov. 30, the CHP served a search warrant at a residence of one of the suspects where they hoped to find additional evidence, he said, but the residence appeared to have been cleared out.

Richards said that because the body was found on a state route, it’s in CHP’s jurisdiction, which is why the agency is investigating it rather than Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s offices.

He added that the murder did occur just inside San Luis Obispo County.