Santa Barbara

Police Arrest 3 Suspects in Fatal Shooting at Santa Barbara Park

Police Arrest 3 Suspects in Fatal Shooting at Santa Barbara Park

Arrests Made in February Fatal Shooting

Santa Barbara police arrested three suspects Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of Luis Gerardo Terrazas at Bohnett Park in February, the Noozhawk reported.

Police Commander Brian Miller identified the two adults as 18-year-old Jimmy Alexander Mora Jr. of Ventura and 19-year-old Jorge Hurtado of Camarillo. KEYT reported both were booked on charges including first-degree murder with special circumstances, attempted murder, conspiracy, and weapons-related charges. A third suspect, an unnamed juvenile, was arrested in Santa Barbara and charged with assault with a deadly weapon for the benefit of a criminal street gang, conspiracy, and weapons charges.

The arrests came after a coordinated multi-agency operation involving the Santa Barbara Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, and Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office. Miller said detectives executed search and arrest warrants simultaneously in Ventura, Camarillo, and Santa Barbara.

Victim Linked to State Street Stabbing Case

Terrazas, 29, was shot and killed at Bohnett Park on San Pascual Street during the early morning hours of February 20. Santa Barbara Independent reported that at the time of his death, Terrazas was facing charges related to the August 1, 2025, stabbing death of Anthony Michael Bisquera Hartley on State Street during Fiesta.

According to KEYT, Terrazas was facing a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the State Street stabbing. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was downgraded from earlier charges of attempted murder with a gang enhancement.

Complex Criminal History

The State Street stabbing that killed Bisquera Hartley and wounded two others involved multiple defendants. The Independent reported that murder charges against two suspects, Sergio Rivas and Juan Fernando Rios, were later dropped when prosecutors determined they acted in self-defense after new video evidence emerged showing Bisquera Hartley was armed.

Terrazas, however, remained charged with attempted murder of Rivas in that case. Court records show all three men in the State Street stabbing were originally charged with gang-related allegations.

Community Safety Concerns

The February shooting at Bohnett Park raised concerns about safety in the Westside neighborhood. Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots around 1:31 a.m., when officers were dispatched to the park at 1200 San Pascual Street.

Residents who spoke to local media after the shooting described the neighborhood as close-knit and said they had never felt unsafe taking children to the park. The shooting marked another violent incident in Santa Barbara's ongoing struggles with gang-related crime.

Investigation Continues

Police said their investigation remains ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact the Santa Barbara Police Department at (805) 897-2465. Commander Miller said the coordinated arrest effort "resulted in the successful apprehension of the identified suspects without significant incident."

The case represents the culmination of a months-long investigation that involved multiple jurisdictions. Police have not disclosed what led them to the three suspects or whether additional arrests are expected.

Reported by 805.life

Researched and written drawing on primary sources. Additional reporting: Noozhawk.

Additional Reporting

Noozhawk

Published

June 4, 2026

Reported and written by 805.life

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