Santa Barbara police on Friday arrested two juvenile suspects in Monday’s fatal shooting on the Lower Eastside.
The shooting victim, 23-year-old Jesus Espinoza-Maldonado of Oxnard, was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition after the shooting, which occurred about 5:20 p.m. in the 1400 block of Eucalyptus Hill Road, just above South Salinas Street, according to Lt. Shawn Hill.
Responders found a vehicle that had been shot, with multiple windows missing, that had crashed into a palm tree and caught fire. Santa Barbara firefighters put out the flames, and no one else was hurt in the incident.
Hill disclosed late Friday that Espinoza-Maldonado had died of his injury Wednesday morning.
Police and sheriff’s deputies mounted an hours-long search into the night Monday for the shooting suspects, who witnesses initially said may be hiding in the area, possibly in a backyard shed.
Police blocked off streets, evacuated residents from at least one home, and issued a shelter-in-place for the area as they set up a perimeter to look for the suspects.
They also responded with their Bearcat armored vehicle and a SWAT team, and a county Air Support Unit helicopter circled overhead for hours.
The juveniles who were arrested, ages 17 and 15, are Santa Barbara residents, Hill said. Their names were withheld because of their ages.
They were booked into Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall on charges of murder with special circumstances and gang felony use of a gun, according to Hill.
He said detectives also arrested Irene Fernandez, 39, of Santa Barbara, on charges of accessory to a felony with special circumstances and gang murder with use of a firearm. She was booked into County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, Hill said. No further details were released.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call SBPD detectives at 805.897.2300.
Police initially identified the shooting victim as Victor Jesus Espinoza and issued a correction Saturday morning.
“We sincerely apologize to the family and the community for the error in the victim’s complete name,” Sgt. Joshua Morton said in a statement.
— This story includes reporting from Noozhawk associate editor Michelle Nelson. Managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
