Arrest Made In 2012 Bregante Lane Shooting

The SBPD on Thursday released the name of the suspect who allegedly shot a Santa Barbara man in the chest in the 1100 block of Bregante Lane on November 25, 2012. Long Beach resident Johnnie Gray, 38, was arrested in March in Long Beach for attempted murder and for allegedly selling, furnishing, and transporting drugs. He’s scheduled to be extradited to Santa Barbara in the coming weeks, police said.

Gray, who is suspected to have ties to a Long Beach gang, was reportedly in the S.B. area at the time because he and the victim were involved in a crack cocaine deal. Detectives said Gray shot the victim at the residence after the two disputed the drug deal. Gray fled the scene but left a 7.62 x 39 mm cartridge — typically fired from a AK-47 or SKS rifle — at the scene. The victim suffered life threatening injuries and slipped into a coma, but he has since been released from the hospital.

On March 15, 2013, detectives obtained a $1 million warrant for Gray’s arrest for the crime of attempted murder after the SBPD identified Gray as the suspect. At the time, Gray was already wanted by the Long Beach Police Department for allegedly selling drugs. LBPD detectives located and arrested Gray for his two warrants at his girlfriend’s house. Defectives searched the house but were unable to find the firearm used in the Santa Barbara shooting.

Gray has been in custody in the Los Angeles County Jail since his March arrest.