Jiram Tenorio Ramon, 26, sits in court listening to witness testimony. Tenorio Ramon is accused of killing bystander Robert Gutierrez during a shootout with a group of minors from Ventura at Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf on Dec. 9, 2022.
Jiram Tenorio Ramon, 26, sits in court listening to witness testimony. A jury found him guilty of murder for killing bystander Robert Gutierrez during a shootout with a group of minors from Ventura at Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf on Dec. 9, 2022. Credit: Daniel Green / Noozhawk photo

A Santa Barbara man is guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of a man at Stearns Wharf, a Superior Court jury found Wednesday morning. 

The verdict in the case came after less than a day of deliberations for the trial accusing Jiram Tenorio Ramon, 26, of fatally shooting Robert Gutierrez, an innocent bystander, during a shootout with a group of Ventura juveniles on Dec. 9, 2022. 

In their closing arguments on Tuesday, attorneys offered conflicting explanations for the killing of Gutierrez. Prosecutors contended it was the result of gang-related violence, while Tenorio Ramon’s attorney countered that it was a tragic side effect of self-defense.

Gutierrez, 52, of Camarillo was visiting Stearns Wharf with his wife for their 20-year wedding anniversary at the time of the shooting. 

This is the second trial for Tenorio Ramon because of a mistrial in 2025. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, but attorney polling showed jurors had voted 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict. The District Attorney’s Office decided to try the case again. 

On Wednesday, jurors found Tenorio Ramon guilty of first-degree murder and returned to deliberations to decide on several gang-related allegations.  

Tenorio Ramon is being held without bail in the Santa Barbara County Jail.

This is a developing story. Check back with Noozhawk for updates. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Daniel Green can be reached at dgreen@noozhawk.com.