A 60-year-old Santa Maria man has been identified as the husband suspected of killing his spouse in their home days before Christmas.

Anthony Kevin Larks was taken into the custody in connection with the fatal shooting Friday at a home on the 1300 block of Dolcetto Lane, according to Lt. Daniel Rios of the Santa Maria Police Department Detective Bureau. 

The victim was Johannes Katya Johnson, 43, of Santa Maria.

Officers were dispatched to the home at approximately 6:30 a.m. for a reported domestic disturbance involving a shooting in the Lavigna gated community west of South Blosser Road.

Despite lifesaving measures, Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Larks and the victim were married and residing together when the crime occurred, police said.

Larks remained in custody Tuesday afternoon at the county’s Northern Branch Jail, with bail set at $2 million.

This investigation has been referred to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review and filing of criminal charges.

Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact Detective Kevin Ochoa at 805.928.3781, ext. 2460.

The fatal shooting was the sixth homicide of 2023 in Santa Maria and the third in December.