Two adults and a juvenile were arrested early Friday morning in connection with a fatal shooting earlier this month in Santa Maria. 

At approximately 2 a.m. Friday, members of the Santa Maria Police Department Detective Bureau, with support from the SWAT Team and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team, executed a warrant operation connected to a Dec. 10 homicide in the city, Lt. Daniel Rios said.

The fatal shooting at 8:45 p.m. Dec. 10 on the 300 block of West Sheila Lane killed Anthony Hernandez, 20, of Santa Maria. Despite life-saving measures, Hernandez died due his injuries.

After a thorough investigation, search warrants were obtained for three locations, and arrest warrants were issued for three suspects, all residents of Santa Maria, Rios said. 

The warrants were executed at two locations in Santa Maria, on the 300 blocks of West Newlove Drive and West Street and a third location in Casmalia on the 2900 block of Associated Road.

Jesus Lopez-Ramirez, 18, and a 16-year-old male juvenile were arrested on suspicion of murder with gang enhancements.

Alex Lopez-Ramirez, 21, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to the crime.

All three suspects were taken into custody without incident, Rios said.

Jesus Lopez-Ramirez and Alex Lopez-Ramirez, who are brothers, were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. 

The 16-year-old, whose name wasn’t released due to his age, was booked into the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Detective Erik Hesch at 805.928.3781 ext. 1349, the SMPD Communications Center at ext. 2277, or the Anonymous Tip Line at ext. 2677.

A GoFundMe page that has raised more than $7,700 to help the Hernandez family with funeral expenses said Anthony was survived by his parents and four siblings.

“He was so kind, smart, funny, full a life,” his sister wrote about her brother. “He was taken away from us too soon.”