AnonymousSource: Santa Maria Police Department
On Saturday, March 12, 2022, at about 8:00 PM, Santa Maria Police Department Communications center received word of a shooting that had occurred in the area of Fesler St. and N. Benwiley Ave. The caller advised that he and his wife were in a car traveling in the area and had stopped at a stop sign when he heard a gunshot nearby. The caller advised that his wife who was in the car with him had been hit by gunfire and they were traveling to the hospital for help. The thirty-two-year-old female and her unborn child were expected to survive and recover from the injury.
Officers immediately responded to initiate an investigation into the incident and located physical evidence associated with an exchange of gunfire between rival gangs. One patrol officer indicated he had been in the area at the time but did not hear the shooting, saw an individual running away from the general location and followed him until he disappeared into a residence. That officer did not believe he had cause to detain the individual running but noted his actions which were also captured on the patrol car’s video system.
Detectives assigned to the case followed up on the investigative leads and were able to determine Irvin Yair Gabino-Perez, 18 of Santa Maria was one of the parties involved in the exchange of gunfire. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at about 5:00 PM, Gabino-Perez was taken into custody by detectives without incident. Gabino-Perez was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail for weapons related charges.
While this shooting has been determined to be gang related, the victim and her husband have no known gang affiliation, they were simply caught in the exchange of gunfire. This investigation is ongoing, and we continue to ask anyone that may have information associated with this shooting and any of the other involved parties to contact Detective Sergeant Andy Magallon at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2164.
