Three men were arrested this week in connection with a fatal shooting linked to a botched robbery attempt late last year in Santa Maria in which one suspect reportedly killed his associate.
At about 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17, Santa Maria Police Department officers were sent to the 500 block of West Cook Street regarding a shooting at a large residential gathering, Lt. Daniel Rios said Wednesday.
Two men were wounded in the shootings, with one, Joshua Anthony Maldonado, 33, pronounced dead at the scene.
The second injured man was transported to the hospital and treated for critical injuries, Rios added.
During their investigation, detectives determined the shootings took place during a botched armed-robbery attempt.
Detectives determined that Maldonado and Andrew Paul Garcia, 33, of Santa Maria had attempted to rob people at the gathering by gunpoint before the shooting occurred, Rios said.
“Garcia is suspected of shooting both the partygoer who survived the critical injuries and his associate, Maldonado, during the botched robbery attempt,” Rios said.
Detectives also learned that Santa Maria residents Arnulfo Villavicencio-Ramirez, 44, and David Olaf Barajas, 34, allegedly participated and conspired in the robbery.
Subsequently, multiple arrest and search warrants were sought and issued.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, detectives — with assistance from the SMPD SWAT Team and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau — conducted a warrant-service operation targeting multiple locations within the city, Rios said.
As a result, Villavicencio-Ramirez and Garcia were taken into custody and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.
Barajas is currently at North Kern State Prison for an unrelated case, and will face new charges due to the December incident.
Garcia was booked on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, robbery, and conspiracy.
He remained in custody Wednesday night, with bail set at $1 million.
Villavicencio-Ramirez was booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy while Barajas faces charges for robbery and conspiracy.
He also remained in custody, with bail set at $250,000.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Whitney at 805.928.3781, ext. 1329 or the Communications Center at 805.928.3781, ext. 2277.