A Goleta man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and other felony charges stemming from an altercation over the weekend that culminated in a shooting and a stabbing on Santa Barbara’s Eastside, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department.
At about 10:20 p.m. Saturday, police were notified that two men had arrived at the emergency room at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, one with a gunshot wound and the other with a stab wound, said Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale.
After officers responded to the hospital, dispatchers received a report from a resident on the 500 block of North Nopal Street regarding a fight and possible shooting in the area.
“Additional officers responded to the area and located blood evidence, evidence related to a shooting, and a knife in the street,” Ragsdale said.
Witnesses told investigators that a verbal altercation occurred in the street among a group of people, and it escalated when one person produced a handgun and started pointing it at close range towards others in the group.
“In response, one subject produced a knife, and reportedly stabbed the gun-wielding suspect,” Ragsdale said. “Simultaneously, the suspect with the gun allegedly fired at the subject that had just stabbed him, striking a lower extremity.”
All those involved fled the area after the shooting occurred, according to police.
The alleged shooter, Felipe Mercado, 34, was arrested after receiving medical care at the hospital, Ragsdale said.
He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and using a firearm while committing a felony.
Mercado remained in custody Monday night, with bail set at $1 million, according to Sheriff’s Office jail records.
The knife-wielding man who was shot remained in the hospital Monday evening, but was expected to be released soon, Ragsdale said.
His name has not been released, and he has not been arrested, Ragsdale added.
The incident remained under active investigation by detectives, and no other information was released as of Monday.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
