Thread: Fatal Stabbing on State Street

By Nick Welsh, March 16, 2007

Teen Killed in State Street Gang Brawl

A 15-year-old Westside resident and El Puente student was stabbed to death behind Saks Fifth Avenue as part of sprawling after-school gang brawl between Eastside and Westside gang members that engulfed much of downtown Santa Barbara — and led to an impromptu suspect lineup in the middle of State Street (pictured) — on Wednesday afternoon.

Police are not releasing the name of the victim pending notification of relatives, and are currently holding about 10 teens at the police station for questioning. No arrests have been made for the killing. According to another report, there is also another teenager in critical condition at Cottage Hospital.

Initial indications suggest the victim was affliliated with a Westside gang. Police are not releasing many details, but indicate that the altercation began at State and Carrillo streets, where the victim was clubbed in the head. He fled up State Street, and was stabbed more than once in the back. He ended up in the bushes behind Saks (pictured). Paramedics were on hand almost immediately, and tried for 10 minutes or more to revive the youth. They were unable to do so.

Officer Bob Casey retrieved a knife from a nearby trash can (pictured being picked up by forensic technician Mike Ullemeyer), but it’s too to say whether that was the murder weapon. A police spokesperson said officers seized many weapons, none firearms.

The violence was in some way linked to the public schools' schedules of partial school days known as “minimum days,” set aside for teacher training and staff meetings. It is a common occurrence for gang violence to break out on such days, frequently flaring up particularly near the bus depot by Chapala and Figueroa streets.

Some students at Santa Barbara High School reported hearing earlier in the day that something big was scheduled to take place on State Street later in the day. In response, city police sent extra officers to patrol State Street, including spokesperson Lt. Paul McCaffrey. He reported that by the time he arrived, things appeared to have quieted down. But that did not last long.

Shortly after the incident, about 35 officers had been dispatched to the scene, including police chief Cam Sanchez (pictured). In addition, about 10 Sheriff's Department deputies came to help. The courthouse experienced a blackout at the same time, so courthouse bailiffs were manning the police barricades erected throughout a two-block bite of State Street and a two-block sweep of Carrillo. Numerous suspects were questioned while seated on State Street in front of Saks (pictured). This left traffic backed up for blocks for miles, and the traffic logjam extended well into the evening.

More news is expected on this by tomorrow.

http://www.independent.com/online_onlys ... treet.html

Accused 14-Year-Old Murderer Makes First Court Appearance

Alleged Teenage Killer of Luis Linares Comes to Court Friday

The 14-year-old junior high school student accused of fatally stabbing 15-year-old Luis Angel Linares during a sprawling State Street gang brawl Wednesday afternoon made his first courtroom appearance at about 2:12 p.m. Friday afternoon. Dressed in a dark green jail jumpsuit with a cable of chains wrapped around his waist, the most striking fact about the defendant was his glaring youth. With copper-colored skin and short black hair, he looked like one of any number of the hundred kids that populate Santa Barbara Junior High School’s playgrounds or ball fields five days a week.

He’s listed as 14-years old, but according to police records, just barely. He celebrated his birthday within the past month. The fact of his age could determine where the defendant will spend much of his future days and years.

Fourteen is the absolute youngest that California’s Prop. 21 — the statewide ballot initiate that allows prosecutors to try minors as adults — allows. Prosecutor Hillary Dozer, the gang specialist within the District Attorney’s office, announced Friday that he would prosecute the defendant as an adult, making him the youngest defendant ever so charged in Santa Barbara history.

Defense attorneys Raymundo Montes De Oca and Jennifer Archer — both with the Public Defender’s office — said it’s too soon to comment on whether they will challenge Dozer’s decision to prosecute the defendant as an adult. Outside the courthouse, Montes De Oca held up a thin green folder, explaining that was all he knew of the case so far. Inside the courtroom, he asked acting Judge Edward DeCaro to continue the arraignment scheduled for early Friday afternoon. De Occa said he needed more time — three to four weeks — to conduct discovery.

Prosecuting attorney Dozer offered no objections and suggested the arraignment be postponed until April 6. De Occa and DeCaro (pictured) both concurred. When the judge explained to the defendant that this meant he’d have to waive his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days, the 14-year-old spoke the one and only word he would utter in court that day. “Yea,” he said.

Afterwards, he was ushered out of the court through a side door by two probation officers wearing shiny, bright blue windbreakers. Afterwards, the boys’ parents — his mother carrying a new born in a portable car seat — exited through the back.

http://www.independent.com/online_onlys ... treet.html

Of course the mother was carrying a newborn. How many other anchors does she have? These anchor baby gangsters need to be shipped off to Mexico permanently.

I live just up the coast from Santa Barbara, and heard about this the night it happened on the local tv news.

The next day, neither of my local papers printed a word about it.

To date, the San Luis Obispo Tribune still hasn't printed a word.

This has become a serious problem in Santa Barbara (median house price $1.2 million+/-). State Street - the main shopping area in Santa Barbara, and a major tourist destination, has been the site of many daylight gang fights.

These hispanic gangs have now moved up the coast to Santa Maria, and also are appearing in the rural community of Nipomo in San Luis Obispo County.

A virulent cancer is the best way I can describe what's happening in California, yet our politicians and media absolutely refuse to draw the obvious conclusion that illegal immigration is the root cause of all of this.

gingerurp,

I didn't see anything that mentioned the immigration status of the victims or perps.

Dixie

A virulent cancer is the best way I can describe what's happening in California, yet our politicians and media absolutely refuse to draw the obvious conclusion that illegal immigration is the root cause of all of this.[/quote]

Printing gang stories in the newspaper would have a bad effect on real estate prices etc. Fast tough enforcement will only happen if the voters
know about the problem.

Gangs need to be stopped!!! If the members are illegals then they need to be deported immidiately if they are wanted for a serious crime. If not then they need to be seriously worked on to change their behavior or sent to jail. the american people should not have put up with this in america. We got rid of the Mafia, we need to get rid of the gangs.

Originally Posted by jimpasz

A virulent cancer is the best way I can describe what's happening in California, yet our politicians and media absolutely refuse to draw the obvious conclusion that illegal immigration is the root cause of all of this.

They are like children who hide behind their hands and think no one can see them. Or they think we are.
It is hard for the papers to spin their agenda when they have to include actual facts so they just avoid that by not addressing it. BUT thanks to the internet the word is getting out there. The facts are coming to light and there are starting to be some consequences.

Originally Posted by Beckyal

Gangs need to be stopped!!! If the members are illegals then they need to be deported immidiately if they are wanted for a serious crime. If not then they need to be seriously worked on to change their behavior or sent to jail. the american people should not have put up with this in america. We got rid of the Mafia, we need to get rid of the gangs.

It won't do any good to deport, especially violent criminals unless they shut the border completely, because they will be back here and on our streets with in a week. WE NEED OUR BORDER CLOSED!!!!!

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

I live just up the coast from Santa Barbara, and heard about this the night it happened on the local tv news.

The next day, neither of my local papers printed a word about it.

To date, the San Luis Obispo Tribune still hasn't printed a word.

This has become a serious problem in Santa Barbara (median house price $1.2 million+/-). State Street - the main shopping area in Santa Barbara, and a major tourist destination, has been the site of many daylight gang fights.

These hispanic gangs have now moved up the coast to Santa Maria, and also are appearing in the rural community of Nipomo in San Luis Obispo County.

A virulent cancer is the best way I can describe what's happening in California, yet our politicians and media absolutely refuse to draw the obvious conclusion that illegal immigration is the root cause of all of this.

They are probably afraid that it will deter customers from shopping and they don't want to hurt sales.