Two Suffer Knife Wounds in Goleta Beach Fight

[UPDATE]: The Sheriff’s Department has issued a statement that confirms Thursday afternoon’s fight at Goleta Beach involved “several documented local gang members from rival gangs.” Department spokesperson Brad McVay said the two people who suffered knife wounds are not cooperating with authorities, and he asked that anyone with information on the incident to call (805) 681-4100.

[ORIGINAL REPORT]: Two people suffered lacerations during a “large fight” at Goleta Beach Thursday afternoon, reported Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Drew Sugars.

At around 4:30 p.m., deputies responded to the popular hangout and learned from witnesses that two groups of young men and teenagers had started brawling near the picnic area. Afterward, a car filled with suspects sped away, the witnesses reported, hitting a pickup truck on its way out.

A number of suspects were detained at Goleta Beach, one of whom suffered a laceration. Deputies eventually found the fleeing car parked near Dos Pueblos High School, said Sugars, and took one suspect into custody. A second was found a short distance away and also detained; he had a laceration across his back. Neither injury appears life threatening, Sugars said.

It’s not clear at this point if the fight was gang-related, and investigators are currently interviewing additional witnesses and identifying the people involved.