An 18-year-old Santa Barbara gang member was shot once in the abdomen this weekend, and though the police say there’s no evidence to suggest the incident is gang-related, the victim hasn’t been cooperating with authorities, and it’s unclear whether the man’s injury was the result of a criminal act, accident, or was self-inflicted.
Officers responded to the 600 block of Wentworth Avenue at 12:04 a.m. to find the victim lying on the west sidewalk, said police spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood in a media release. He was transported by paramedics to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and is expected to survive, said Harwood.
The subsequent investigation revealed the victim was attending a family gathering in the area when he was shot. No more information has been released at this point.