ORCUTT, Calif. - A Labor Day family barbeque turns tragic after a man, who Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies says is the victims' son or step son, opened fire on his parents, killing his father and leaving his mother in critical condition.
Just after 6:00pm Monday, the California Highway Patrol along with Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies were called to Orcutt Community Park in the Rice Ranch community after several shots were fired inside the park. A 9-1-1 caller reported that a male, believed to be the suspect, left the park in a black colored jeep after firing multiple shots.
CHP arrived on scene first and found a man dead and a woman critically injured. At about 6:15pm the Santa Maria Police Department found the suspect's jeep abandoned on the Stowell Road Overpass. At about 6:30pm hospital personnel called law enforcement and said the suspect showed up at the hospital for an unrelated medical issue. Deputies responded to the hospital and took the suspect into custody without incident.
"The suspect had checked himself in at the hospital for an unrelated medical condition, as units were putting this all together they realized the suspect was a the hospital and they responded there," says Commander Dominic Palera, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
As the investigation continues, the motive remains unclear. At this time, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is not releasing the name of the suspect or victims.
