Additional Arrests Made in Stearns Wharf Homicide

Following the January 19 arrest of four suspects in Santa Barbara who were involved in the murder of Mr. Robert Gutierrez on December 9, 2022, at the base of Stearns Wharf, detectives continued their investigation to identify and bring to justice additional involved suspects.  On February 16, 2023, the Santa Barbara Police Department, assisted by several outside agencies, served search and arrest warrants at multiple locations in Los Angeles County and Ventura County.  Three juveniles were arrested. Two are in custody for 187 PC, Murder and the third is in custody for Possession of a firearm and Accessory to murder.  A firearm was also recovered in Thursday's search and arrest warrants. It is not known at this time if the firearm recovered was used in the commission of this crime.

Mr. Robert Gutierrez, a Camarillo resident, was an innocent bystander who was in Santa Barbara with his wife walking on Stearns Wharf when he was struck and killed by one of the rounds fired during an altercation between two groups of individuals at the base of the wharf.  One group involved in the altercation has been identified as local Santa Barbara area residents with ties to a local Santa Barbara street gang.  The opposing group in the altercation has been identified as Ventura County residents with ties to Ventura County street gangs.

The Santa Barbara Police Department remains committed to ensuring every suspect that the evidence shows participated in the heinous murder of Mr. Gutierrez is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  

Anyone with information regarding this homicide investigation is asked to please call the Santa Barbara Police Department Detective Bureau at (805) 897-2347.