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Police cars on the 1500 block of Gillespie St. investigate a late morning shooting Mar. 1, 2010

Paul Wellman

Police cars on the 1500 block of Gillespie St. investigate a late morning shooting Mar. 1, 2010

Man Shot in Head

Police on Lookout for Four Suspects; Victim in Serious Condition

Monday, March 1, 2010
By Chris Meagher (Contact)

Santa Barbara police are on the lookout for four suspects related to a Monday morning shooting on the Westside that left a male victim in serious condition at Cottage Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police are still unclear what prompted the shooting but, according to witnesses, the victim — a Hispanic male in his 20s — met the alleged shooter and two accomplices at the front door of the home at 1535 Gillespie Street, and was shot one time in the middle of the forehead. While Sgt. Mike McGrew said witnesses inside the home heard an exchange, “the story is still vague right now” as to what was said between the victim and alleged shooter. McGrew said he didn’t know if the door was opened by the victim or the suspects, but that the shooting happened inside the residence near the doorway.

SBPD crime scene investigator Mike Ullemeyer with collected evidence from a shooting at 1535 Gillespie Mar. 1, 2010
Click to enlarge photo

Paul Wellman

SBPD crime scene investigator Mike Ullemeyer with collected evidence from a shooting at 1535 Gillespie Mar. 1, 2010

When police arrived just after 11:00 a.m., they found the victim conscious and speaking. They have not identified motive at this point, and the incident doesn’t appear to be gang or drug related.

The suspected shooter, described as a white male in his 30s who was unfamiliar to the residents of the home, was purportedly accompanied by two black males. Also with the trio also was a female accomplice with long, blond hair who waited in the vehicle which was described as an older, black Volvo. All were wearing dark clothing.

1535 Gillespie St.
Click to enlarge photo

Paul Wellman

1535 Gillespie St.

Some witnesses said the car was last seen driving east on West Arrellaga Street, while a police press release said the vehicle was last seen driving north on Gillespie. The incident took place one block from a Harding School playground.

As of noon, detectives still had Gillespie between Arrellaga and Alberta Streets closed off as they collected evidence, which included a freshly discarded cigarette butt.

Anyone with information should call detectives at (805) 897-2335.

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