SBPDPIO
Update by the Santa Barbara Police Department
March 23, 2022
In the early morning of March 20, 2022, a homicide occurred in the 500 block of North Milpas Street. A male victim, Valentine Hernandez, a 40-year-old Port Hueneme resident was stabbed after a confrontation. Hernandez was transported to the hospital but tragically died from his wounds.
Santa Barbara Police Department Detectives worked this case tirelessly resulting in the arrest of four suspects over the course of the last three days:
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Carlos Rios Zavala, 53-year-old Santa Barbara resident. Charged with felony Murder – Bail $2,000,000. Zavala was arrested on March 22, 2022, in the 400 block of South C Street, Oxnard.
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Alejandro Mendoza Zarco, 44-year-old Santa Barbara resident. Charged with felony Conspiracy (relating to the murder) – Bail $2,000,000. Zarco was arrested on March 20, 2022, in the 1000 block of East Montecito Street, Santa Barbara.
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Leticia Munoz, 60-year-old Oxnard resident. Charged with felony Conspiracy (relating to the murder) – Bail $1,000,000. Munoz was arrested on March 22, 2022, in the 400 block of South C Street, Oxnard.
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Jesus Manuel Zavala-Zazueta, 45-year-old Port Hueneme resident. Charged with felony Conspiracy (relating to the murder) – Bail $2,000,000. Zavala-Zazueta was arrested on March 22, 2022, near the intersection of Cook and Chino Street, Santa Barbara.
Though several suspects have been arrested, this case is still under investigation and more follow-ups will be conducted. As stated in the previous release this homicide does not appear to be gang related.
Victim Dies in Milpas Street Stabbing
Update by the Santa Barbara Police Department
March 20, 2022
On March 20, 2022, around 2:00 am, the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Combined Communications Center received a report of an assault that occurred with a deadly weapon in the 500 block of North Milpas Street.
Multiple officers responded to the scene and located a victim who had been stabbed. The victim was transported by ambulance to Cottage Hospital Emergency Room for medical treatment. Tragically, the victim died from the injuries they sustained.
The initial investigation revealed the victim, and the suspect had some sort of confrontation prior to the stabbing. After the stabbing occurred, the suspect fled the area and is currently outstanding. Detectives are actively investigating this homicide. There does not appear to be any current threat to the public. It is believed to be an isolated incident and does not appear to be gang related.
If anyone has information about this homicide, please call the Santa Barbara Police Department at 805-897-2355.
The name of the victim is being withheld pending next of kin notifications. No other information is available currently.
Reported by edhat readers
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Stabbing on Milpas Street early this morning.
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200am in the 500 block of Milpas, some kind of an assault. Cops have the area taped off and are interviewing witnesses
Our judicial system and government in California sucks look at this crap what police we have left their hands are tide ’cause our leaders are a bunch of **** *****
Salud should step in to the bad side of the crowd he’s always batting for the funding and housing etc-Not the nasty Criminal side thats ruining California
Then move. See ya!
Hard to hear our beautiful city is becoming so unsafe.stabbing shootings, armed robberies at restaurants,hit and runs weekly. Hope we do not become so custom to hearing this that it becomes the norm. We must hold people accountable for crimes, help our police so they can do their jobs. They put their life on the line for us going after criminals and they they are just released back into the city. NOVEMBER
Unfortunately this happened, but it is nothing new for this to happen on that particular block of Milpas St. (500 N.). This sort of violence has been happening as far back I can remember back in the 60’s when I was a kid residing just 2 1/2 blocks northeast. The nightclub, ‘La Pachanga’ (has gone through different names in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) and the Mecca bar out in the parking lot out back. Mostly on the weekends, but not every single weekend. Also there was a Latino bar around East Haley and Nopal streets that was called ‘Club 21’ that had a lot of fights, stabbings and on occasions some shootings during the 60’s and 70’s. I do not know exactly when it was closed down, but good thing it was. ‘La Pachanga’ and the ‘Mecca’ should be shut down. ‘La Pachanga’ at one time was the ‘king’s Supper Club’ back in the 50’s and from what I was told it was a very classy place. Men could not get in without wearing a tie. That place would make a good Jazz & and Blues Nightclub. And the ‘Mecca’ would make a good English or Irish Pub. Maybe some day that would happen.