SWAT team members outside a room at the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation of a shooting that occurred earlier in the day. Several people were taken into custody for questioning. One person was being treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound. 
Police search a vehicle outside the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation of a shooting. 
Santa Barbara officers and a K-9 unit outside the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation into a shooting that left one man hospitalized. 
Police search the area outside the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation of a shooting. 
Police converged on the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation of a shooting. 
Police in the neighborhood behind the Sunset Motel in Santa Barbara on Wednesday during the investigation of a shooting.
Santa Barbara police converged on a State Street motel on Wednesday while investigating a shooting.
At about 6 a.m., police were alerted that a man with a gunshot wound had arrived at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital emergency room, according to Anthony Wagner, a police spokesman.
Investigation led them to a room at the Sunset Motel at 3504 State St., Wagner said.
Several people were cleared out of the room and were being questioned, Wagner said.
At about 10:15 a.m., officers, with the assistance of a robot and a K-9 unit, determined that the room was empty.
Some motel guests were evacuated while the police action was taking place, Wagner said.
Police subsequently arrested Elias Robles, 28, of Santa Barbara, a prison parolee, on a variety of charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a sawed-off shotgun, Wagner said.
They also seized 11 ounces of suspected crystal methamphetamine.
Robles was being held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail
Portions of State Street were closed in the area during the incident, but the roadway was reopened once the room was secured.
The victim suffered “very serious, but not life-threatening” injuries, Wagner said. His name was not released.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
