San Marcos High School and El Camino Elementary School were put on precautionary lockdown this afternoon for about 30 minutes after a verbal argument between transients on Granny Field escalated. One allegedly stabbed another and then allegedly hit an intervener in the head with a blunt object. The stabbing victim asked a passerby to call 911, which is when the Sheriff’s Department responded at 1:17 p.m., according to a spokesperson. “Granny Field” refers to the open space behind Turnpike Shopping Center. The stabbing victim was taken to Cottage Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening conditions.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect named Luis Velasquez after searching the field, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Detectives, patrolmen, dogs, and a helicopter were all employed in the search for Velazquez, who was hiding out in a homeless encampment. The 30-year-old was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Santa Barbara County jail. Bail was set at $30,000.00