Police arrested four Santa Barbara men Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred near Stearns Wharf in December.
The Santa Barbara Police Department and Harbor Patrol responded to the wharf area at State Street and Cabrillo Boulevard around 8:40 p.m. on Dec. 9 and found a man with a single gunshot wound, police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said.
At the time, police provided no other details.
On Thursday, Ragsdale said in a statement that the shooting victim died of his injuries at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital a few weeks later on Dec. 20.
The man was identified as Robert Dion Gutierrez, 52, of Camarillo.
Police started a murder investigation.
“It appears Mr. Gutierrez was an innocent bystander when the shooting occurred,” Ragsdale said.
“Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department have been continually investigating this homicide. Their extensive and diligent investigation led to the identification of multiple suspects connected to a local criminal street gang,” he said.
Throughout the day Thursday, police, Sheriff’s Office deputies, and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office served search and arrest warrants at several locations including Coast Village Road near Olive Mill Road, West Canon Perdido Street, Chino Street, and the area of Calle Real and Turnpike Road.
Four men were arrested and booked into the County Jail on charges related to the murder, Ragsdale said.
Police arrested Jiram Tenorio Ramon, 22, of Santa Barbara; Ricardo Tomas Jauregui Moreno Jr., 20, of Santa Barbara; Christopher Dave Miranda, 21, of Santa Barbara; and James Lee Rosborough, 21, of Santa Barbara.
While serving these warrants, police arrested a 16-year-old male for juvenile in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall, Ragsdale said.
In recent weeks, Noozhawk has made multiple requests to the Police Department for information about the shooting, but none has been forthcoming before Thursday.
On Jan. 2, Noozhawk asked the department to confirm a report that the victim had died, and for updates on the investigation, including the circumstances and a possible motive.
At the time Ragsdale responded that “due to the nature of the ongoing investigation, we are not able to make a detailed statement at this time. As soon as we are able, we will release information to the media and the public.”
Ragsdale said the case is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information can call the police department at 805.882.8900 or the Detective’s Bureau directly at 805.897.2343.
Gutierrez is survived by his wife, Gerallie, and their daughters, Ariana and Carisa.
A GoFundMe account established by friends to help the family described him as “the rock that his entire family leaned on.”
Gutierrez worked in health care at a Camarillo assisted living center, was a longtime volunteer at his church, Padre Serra Parish, and coached his girls’ AYSO soccer teams, according to the account.
