Five people have been arrested in connection with a series of shootings including one that ended in death last year on the western edge of Santa Maria.
In April 2022, detectives with the Santa Maria Police Department began investigating a series of shootings, one of which killed the victim, Sgt. Todd Logan said late Thursday.
“Through the course of the investigations, detectives identified five suspects involved with the series of crimes,” Logan said.
Police completed the investigation this week with two men and three women arrested in connection with the crimes, Logan added.
The fatal shooting involved the death of Luis Bernabe Jimenez, 61, who was found dead in his white sedan the morning of April 23, 2022.
Officers were dispatched at 10:20 a.m. to a report of a person with gunshot wounds in a vehicle near the intersection of West Main Street and Hanson Way.
The sedan was parked on the dirt shoulder near farm fields and ag-related businesses in the area.
Police believe the shooting occurred on April 22, 2022, hours before they found the body.
The defendants also have been linked to three other shootings involving victims identified as John Doe No. 1, No.. 2 and No. 3.
Those shootings occurred last year on April 2, 15 and 18, according to the criminal complaint.
In one incident, a young adult male was critically injured April 2, 2022, in a shooting near the intersection of West Jones and South Pine streets, police said at the time.
Detectives have been in contact with the victims and their families regarding these recent arrests, Logan said.
The two men and three women arrested range from 21 to 38 years old with most from Santa Maria, police said.
Logan said the shootings were connected to gang activity.
Isacc Anthony Almaguer, 23, and Felix Antonio Martinez-Justo Jr., 21, both of Santa Maria, have been charged with one count of murder for the death of Jimenez.
Almaguer also faces three counts of attempted murder while Martinez-Justo faced two counts of attempted murder.
The criminal complaint alleges a special circumstance that the killing occur during the commission of a robbery.
Representatives of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office reportedly announced in court they would waive the death penalty, leaving the men facing a sentence, if convicted, of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Almaguer had been serving time for a different crime in Solano State Prison, but has since been returned to Santa Barbara County to face the new charges.
Maria Guadalupe Hernandez, 25, of Nipomo, has been charged with three felony counts of being an accessory to murder and attempted murder. Police initially released her name as Maria Guadalupe Hernandez Bueno.
Monique Alesha Arriola, 38, and Brenda Roberta Aguirre, 36, both of Santa Maria, were charged with being an accessory to attempted murder.
The three women also face additional special allegations or sentencing enhancements including for gang activity.
Logan said the investigation that ended with the arrests included “vital assistance” from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and California Division of Adult Parole Operations.
“Detectives believe there may be witnesses to these events that have yet to come forward,” Logan said.
Police have asked that anyone with information contact them at 805.928.3781, ext. 2277.
This is the second 2022 homicide case where police announced arrests this month.
On July 21, detectives revealed three people had been arrested and charged in connection with an October 2022 homicide.
