Anonymous
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is releasing additional information in regards to the Officer Involved Shooting that occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m. on May 7, 2019. To present date, the investigation has revealed that Santa Barbara Police Department officers were in the process of serving a high-risk search and arrest warrant at an apartment on Camino De Vida when the wanted subject, 32-year-old Francisco Anthony Alcaraz Jr., shot at them from the second story stairwell of his apartment and then from an upstairs rear bedroom window.
Alcaraz was a documented gang member from the Santa Barbara area and was wanted for attempted murder due to his involvement in a suspected gang-related shooting. Alcaraz resided in Lompoc, but was known to frequent the Camino De Vida apartment, the home of his wife and children. The warrant, a planned SWAT operation, was served at a time when Alcaraz was determined to be alone inside the apartment.
After examining the evidence collected, Sheriff’s detectives determined that Alcaraz was in possession of a 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine and shot a total of six rounds at officers in two separate exchanges of gunfire. One of the rounds struck an officer in the pant leg, but fortunately did not cause injury. Another round struck a SWAT vehicle where officers were taking cover.
In both instances where the suspect shot at officers, they returned fire. Five Santa Barbara Police Officers fired a total of 58 rounds at the suspect. An autopsy revealed that the suspect was struck four times and that he died as a result of his injuries. Preliminary indications are that none of the gunshot wounds were self-inflicted.
Once the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Sheriff’s Office Releases Shooting Suspect’s Cause of Death
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is releasing additional information regarding the suspect who was found deceased on May 7, 2019, inside an apartment near Turnpike Road following an exchange of gunfire with Santa Barbara Police Officers. Because it is still an active investigation, many details are not yet available for release. However, an autopsy was performed yesterday, May 9, 2019, on the suspect, 32-year-old Francisco Anthony Alcaraz Jr. and it was determined that he expired from multiple gunshot wounds. Once a final review of the autopsy is complete, the Sheriff’s Office will release additional information.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (SBSO) Forensics team, have processed the scene and are currently examining the collected evidence. Detectives with the SBSO Criminal Investigations Division continue to investigate the incident as well.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to provide an update next week.
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“Multiple gunshot wounds,” eh? How do you spell “duh?”
Not so much of a ‘duh’ Rex; He could have died from a single self inflicted gunshot wound. This makes it sound like he may have died from gunfire exchanged with law enforcement.
To be clear I don’t know him and am not trying to stuck up for this year. But what I have read is he was indicted to some serious crimes in 2008 but it seems he has 2-3 kids that are on the younger side, So was he released after a year or two and had a few kids and turned his life around or was he in and out since? Is the wife a gangbanger too?
It says he died of multiple gunshot wounds….not one and the cops kept shooting before he hit the floor. What don’t you understand.
Most prisoners get conjugal visits while in jail- I was a “Big Brother” years ago, for a kid whose Dad was “in jail”… He had been there 8 years and they had 5 kids all under 11 yrs old… It’s a great system, isn’t it… He ( the Father/Sperm Donor) was supposed to be released within the year and ended up get an extended sentence do to a gang fight (stabbing) while in prison… I stopped with the program when the Mother became pregnant with the 6th kid.
This wouldn’t happen in China. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
Coastwatch, why doesn’t your experience surprise me? All too sad that this type of thing keeps happening over and over and a lot of people and our lawmakers just bury their heads in the sand rather than make some hard but necessary decisions to end a lot of this madness. Hey, here’s a thought. Let’s all agree to Bernie Sander’s idea to let convicted criminals and felons have voting rights because they have already paid their debts to society by being in jail. Such brilliance! 🙂
Couldn’t they have waited until he went to buy a pack of smokes and arrest him then? Seems like a bad idea to do this near a school in the middle of the day.
Did the window glass break from the inside or outside ?
They were shooting in and he was shooting out….so a little of both likely. So you don’t have to wait for the autopsy I’d doubt he shot himself multiple times.
From what I heard when they were responding it was as if they knew something was going to happen maybe they were warned..I agree with this guy^^^^^.
Is that number supposed to be alarming?
A guy like that shouldn’t have children. His wife could choose him; kids who are saddled with bad parents don’t have much of a chance in life since their early experiences are so warped.
Interesting that they chose that title, as opposed to “Known Gang Member Dies After Shootout With Police”,
A gang member with several previous convictions (and wanted for attempted murder) was carrying a semi- automatic “hand”gun capable of firing at least 6 rounds of 40 caliber ammunition, who fired at the police from the stairwell (and also from a rear window) of an apartment building where his own children and other innocent people live. … THANK YOU to the police officers who permanently removed this threat to our peaceful society !
Not very good shooting 4 out of 58.
Hah Hah!
Actually excellent shooting. Most shootings involve more bullets and less strikes or a lot of collateral damage. Remember the case of the 2 NYPD cops shooting at a suspect 30 feet away on a sidewalk, didn’t hit the guy at all but hit a few bystanders.
I am greatly alarmed by the fact that our officers cannot shoot straight, sending 54 stray bullets into a densely populated residential neighborhood and seriously endangering the populace? I’m no marksman, but this is atrocious. $20million dollar wrongful death lawsuit is the price we must pay to capture one gangster(like he’s Bonnie and Clyde or Al Capone)? Take away their guns until they “prove” themselves proficient. If they can’t do the job in with a standard clip of 8-9 rounds, much less a the 30 rounds in their assault rifles, they should not be allowed to carry firearms.
PS yes I know what it feels to be shot at and having to return fire
We need readily available birth control and reproductive health services, ESPECIALLY for this sect of the population! 6 kids to a jailed father? What a tragedy. Shameful that some politicians are catering to the uber-conservative sphincter minority of our country and trying to ban abortion and reproductive rights. NONE of these criminals should be having 6 kids. This is exactly what is wrong with our society, right here. What do the pro-birthers have to say about that? I bet they wouldn’t adopt these troubled kids. SAD.
BIRTH CONTROL, people! Birth control!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-cover-funeral-expenses-family-alkaraz-in-need
GAUCHOGURL – why drag his innocent kids into this? No matter what kind of criminal he was, he had kids that depended on him, maybe his wife did too. Just because they need help with the funeral shouldn’t be cause for you to “sigh.” Have a heart.
Sorry that I can’t find in my heart a place to believe that EVERYONE is entitled to be “properly put to rest” and that merely by dying a man who chose a lifestyle of crime and violence is suddenly converted to a “good” father and husband. But if you feel otherwise, please make a donation. Maybe a parade can be organized too.
No matter how “properly” he is put to rest (ie, how much they spend on his funeral), they will need financial help with it, and with life without a father. If you can’t find it in your heart to have sympathy for an innocent family, then there’s nothing more I can say. I’m sorry for you.