A man wanted in connection with an April shooting in Santa Maria was taken into custody in Imperial County and returned to the Central Coast. 

At approximately 10 a.m. on April 17, Santa Maria police officers were sent to the area of McClelland and Mill streets regarding a possible shooting after residents reported hearing gunshots in the area, Sgt. Daniel Rios said. 

Officers verified a shooting had occurred, determining that a confrontation took place between two adults before one man fired multiple gunshots at the other. 

“Property damage was sustained, but thankfully no one was injured,” Rios said. 

Investigators identified Omar Guadalupe Torres, 39, of Santa Maria as the suspect and began searching for him. He could not be located and was believed to have fled the Santa Maria area.

Detectives ultimately obtained an arrest warrant for Torres that was uploaded into local, state and national law enforcement databases.

On June 5,  members of the Calexico Police Department in Imperial County contacted Torres, who was arrested on the warrant.

Days later, Torres was transferred to the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

On Monday, Torres was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, although jail records show his bail being $3.4 million. 

Torres pleaded not guilty last week in Santa Barbara County Superior Court  to assault with a semiautomatic firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, along with the several sentencing enhancements, including that this is his third strike under the California Three Strikes sentencing law. 

He is scheduled to return to Santa Maria Superior Court on June 22.  

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Silver at 805.928.3781 ext. 1346, or the police Communications Center at 805.928.3781 ext. 2277.