3 Charged in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Santa Barbara Man at Bohnett Park

Justice in the Westside: Arrests Made in Bohnett Park Shooting

Four months after Luis Gerardo Terrazas was gunned down at Bohnett Park, one of Santa Barbara's most cherished Westside gathering places, law enforcement has made arrests that reveal a tragic intersection of gang violence and a community still healing from previous trauma.

The Santa Barbara Independent reported that three teenagers were arrested last week in connection with the February 20 shooting: 18-year-old Jimmy Alexander Mora Jr. of Ventura, 19-year-old Jorge Angel Hurtado of Camarillo, and an unnamed juvenile. According to Noozhawk, prosecutors filed charges Monday alleging the killing was "gang-related murder" connected to the Eastside criminal street gang.

Hurtado faces the most serious charges, including murder and attempted murder, with special allegations for gang enhancement and discharging a 9mm semi-automatic firearm causing great bodily injury. He remains in custody at Santa Barbara Main Jail on $3 million bail, with arraignment scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m.

A Park Where Community Gathers

Bohnett Park sits at the heart of Santa Barbara's Westside, a vibrant neighborhood known for its cultural diversity, tree-lined streets, and strong sense of community. The park, originally called Anapamu Park when acquired by the city in 1936, was renamed in 1976 for former mayor Floyd O. Bohnett.

Today, families know it as a place where children play on the playground designed for 5- to 12-year-olds, where informal soccer games unfold on the grass, and where picnics happen under large shady trees. Located between San Andres and San Pascual Streets, it sits next to the Westside Boys and Girls Club — a symbol of the neighborhood's commitment to its youth.

But the park has also been a focal point for community challenges. In 2012, The Santa Barbara Independent described efforts to revitalize what officials called "ground zero for revitalizing the Westside," installing bullet-resistant basketball backboards and working to transform the space into a safer community hub.

The early morning hours of February 20 shattered that vision of safety when Terrazas, 29, was found with a gunshot wound around 1:30 a.m. Despite efforts by first responders, he died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

A Life Marked by Violence

Terrazas's death came with its own complicated history. At the time of his killing, he was facing charges connected to a violent incident that had rocked the community six months earlier during Fiesta weekend.

In August 2025, a knife fight erupted on State Street that left 30-year-old Anthony Bisquera-Hartley dead and two others wounded. Terrazas was initially charged with attempted murder in that case, but prosecutors later dropped those charges when video evidence emerged showing that Bisquera-Hartley was armed and had been the aggressor.

By February, Terrazas was facing only assault charges in connection with the State Street incident. His family remembered him as someone who "had a big heart and a presence that made people feel safe, supported, and valued," noting he left behind "his beloved son, his loving mother, and his siblings."

Multi-Agency Investigation Yields Arrests

The investigation that led to last week's arrests involved coordination between Santa Barbara police, the Ventura Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, and the District Attorney's Office. Search and arrest warrants were served simultaneously in Ventura, Camarillo, and Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Police Commander Brian Miller said detectives had identified "multiple suspects believed to be involved" in Terrazas's death. Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Weichbrod indicated that if any juvenile defendants meet conditions to be tried as adults, his office intends to seek that transfer to adult court.

Community Impact and Moving Forward

In the days following Terrazas's death, a memorial of flowers, candles, and balloons appeared on San Pascual Street near the park. A GoFundMe campaign raised money for funeral expenses, and the community organized car wash fundraisers to support his family.

The arrests represent a significant development for a Westside community that has long grappled with the tension between its family-friendly character and the reality of gang violence. Bohnett Park, designed to be a safe haven for children and families, became the site of a tragedy that highlighted ongoing challenges facing Santa Barbara's most diverse neighborhood.

As the case moves forward in the courts, the community continues working to reclaim spaces like Bohnett Park as symbols of hope rather than violence — ensuring that the children who play on its swings and families who gather for picnics can do so without fear.