Suspect Fatally Wounded in Confrontation with Deputies

Santa Barbara – At 8:15 PM on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office – Public Safety Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a family disturbance at 4141 Mariposa Dr. in Hope Ranch, CA.  Deputies responded to the residence and discovered a female deceased inside the home, the victim of an apparent homicide.  A disabled elderly male resident of the home was also located and transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

Deputies immediately searched the home and secured a perimeter of the surrounding area.  A shelter-in-place alert was sent to area residents advising them to remain in their homes as deputies searched for the homicide suspect.  During the search, deputies located the suspect on the property of the homicide.  Deputies attempted to gain verbal control of the suspect, however he presented a threat to them.  In defense of the threat posed by the suspect, several deputies fired their service weapons at the suspect, fatally wounding him.  No deputies were injured during the confrontation with the suspect.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation into the homicide, processing the crime scene and working to identify the relationships of the persons involved in the incident.  The deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine following any officer involved shooting.

No additional information is available for release at this time, as this is an active and ongoing criminal investigation.  The Sheriff’s Office will release additional information as it becomes available.