Suspect arrested in first murder of 2024 in Santa Maria – edhat

UPDATE: Identification of shooting victims and arrest of suspect

Case number: SMPD24-0008984
The Santa Maria Police Department is providing an update on the shooting that occurred on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at approximately 10:13 p.m. in the 400 block of N. Benwiley Street.

The victims of this tragic event have been identified as 27-year-old Miguel Pablo-Morelos, who unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Marian Regional Medical Center. The second victim is a 19-year-old adult male from Santa Maria who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

Officers were dispatched to the scene after a shooting was reported outside a residence where a large party was taking place. Both victims sustained gunshot wounds and were later transported to Marian Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

The Santa Maria Police Department Detective Bureau and Crime Lab arrived on scene and the Detective Bureau took over the investigation, which has been ongoing since the beginning. Investigators subsequently identified the shooter and male suspect in the case as a 17-year-old Santa Maria resident and known gang member. A murder warrant and search warrants were obtained for the suspect, who was pursued in the Santa Barbara area.

Late on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, into early on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the Santa Maria Police Department Detective Bureau, with assistance from investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara Police Department, conducted a warrant service operation in the 500 block of E. Ortega Street in the City of Santa Barbara. As a result, the 17-year-old suspect in this case was arrested without incident. A 16-year-old male minor and accomplice of the shooter who lived at the Ortega residence was also arrested on an unrelated and outstanding juvenile arrest warrant. Both were transported and booked into the Santa Maria Juvenile Detention Center.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Swenson at (805) 928-3781 extension 1648 or the Communications Center at (805) 928-3781 extension 2277.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the SMPD tip line at (805) 928-3781 extension 2677 (COPS).

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