Solvang Robbery / Attempted Murder Suspect Apprehended

Santa Maria - May 4th, 2009

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has arrested an attempted murder suspect in connection to last week’s armed robbery in Solvang.

Last week, Sheriff’s Detectives identified Eddie Rojo (DOB (10/21/70) as the gunman who shot a 32-year old Solvang man during a robbery attempt in the Santa Ines Mission parking lot just after 7:00pm Sunday April 26, 2009. The victim is recovering from two non-life threatening wounds.

On Monday, May 4, 2009 Sheriff’s Detectives, through their investigation, were able to track down Rojo to an apartment complex on the 1000-block of West Morrison Ave. in Santa Maria. During surveillance Detectives saw Rojo leave an apartment unit at approximately 11:00AM. When Detectives called out to Rojo to turn himself in, he immediately went back into the apartment unit and would not come back out.

Sheriff’s personnel immediately secured the location and evacuated several nearby units as a precaution. The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) was called and attempted to communicate with Rojo by using a loud speaker. Rojo eventually gave himself up without incident at approximately 3:30PM.

He was taken into custody on Attempted Murder and Armed Robbery charges. He will be booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.

Meanwhile, Rojo’s female accomplice remains unidentified and at large. She is suspected of luring the victim to the mission parking lot as part of a scheme to rob him. A composite drawing of the accomplice has been released to the public. If anyone has any information please contact Sheriff’s Detectives at 805-686-5006 or the Department’s Anonymous Tipline at 805-681-4171.

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