Three people were arrested hours after allegedly stealing a gun from a Santa Maria apartment on Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 12:25 p.m., officers from with Santa Maria Police Department responded to the 900 block of West Morrison Avenue regarding a report of a stolen firearm, police Lt. Matthew Kline said. 

The victims told officers that three men had come to his apartment to use a music studio located inside the residence.

The men spent time inside the apartment and the victim noticed his handgun was missing from the living room.

“When the victim confronted the men, one of the suspects allegedly lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun in his waistband while threatening to shoot him,” Kline sad. 

The three suspects then left in a vehicle.

Gang Suppression Team detectives and patrol officers later reviewed surveillance video from inside the residence. 

“The footage appeared to show one of the suspects picking up the handgun from a couch and handing it to another suspect, who concealed it in his waistband,” Kline sad. 

The firearm was described as a black Taurus GX2 handgun valued at approximately $420.

Just before 6 p.m., detectives located the suspects’ vehicle and detained three individuals believed to be involved in the incident. 

During the detention, officers located two loaded handguns on one of the suspects, including the victim’s stolen firearm and a “ghost gun” or firearm without a serial number.

All three suspects, believed to be associated with a criminal street gang, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, weapons violations, and conspiracy, Kline said.

The suspects, whose names and ages weren’t released, were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.