The Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) initiated an investigation into an attempted murder on Sept. 11, after a man was shot and injured on the 900 block of West El Camino Street in Santa Maria early that morning. Police say the shooting, which was Santa Maria’s second in eight days and third in less than a month, appears to be gang related.
Police found the victim with a single gunshot wound to his chest just before 1 a.m., according to a SMPD press release. He was reportedly transported to Marian Regional Medical Center with critical injuries.
While police do not have any suspects at this time, SMPD Lt. Paul Van Meel said the shooting did not appear to be random. Although Van Meel said the shooting does seem gang-related, he wouldn’t say why.
“We’re not getting into the specifics of it, but it looks that way,” Van Meel said.
Police will release more information at a later date, he added.
The shooting is one of two currently under investigation by SMPD detectives. On Sept. 3, Edward Ramirez was shot and killed on the 2000 block of North Lazo Way. Ramirez, 19, was also shot just before 1 a.m. Van Meel said police are not releasing updates on that investigation at this time.
Anyone with information on either crime can call the department at 928-3781, Ext. 2278.
This article appears in Sep 14-21, 2017.