SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UPDATE... Santa Barbara Police identify victim in February 19th, fatal shooting as Kelly Mitchell Hunt of Ventura.
Here is what police release says: SANTA BARBARA, CA – February 27, 2013
The victim in this incident is Kelly Mitchell Hunt, age 21, of Ventura.
Hunt was not known to frequent Santa Barbara. Anyone who believes they saw Hunt or has knowledge of his activities in Santa Barbara in the days preceding his death are asked to contact SBPD Detective Brian Larson at (805) 897-2345 / blarson@sbpd.com or call anonymously to (805) 897-2386.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – February 20, 2013
On February 19, 2013 at 7:17 p.m., officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to a call of gunshots heard in the vicinity of 1000 Olive Street. The first responding officer was on-scene in less than three minutes and located a 21-year old male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Santa Barbara City Firefighters and AMR Paramedics responded and provided medical treatment at the scene. The victim was transported by paramedics to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead at 7:55 p.m.
Off-duty SBPD Investigative Division personnel were called-in and detectives have been working this case non-stop. Witnesses were contacted at the scene. Investigation indicates that at the time of the incident the victim was on the east sidewalk of 1000 Olive Street. A bicycle was found at that location. It is unknown at this time if this incident is gang-related. No arrests have been made.
Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation additional details are being withheld.
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A shooting in Santa Barbara leaves a 21-year-old man dead.
Authorities say this marked the second shooting in the city this year.
Santa Barbara community leaders believe this incident is reflective of the gun violence issues plaguing the country.
It happened at around 7 p.m. Tuesday night on the 1000 block of Olive Street.
The young man was blasted with gun shots multiple times.
"It's absolutely alarming, you know, to have a shooting and to have somebody deceased and is a victim of gun violence in our city," say Santa Barbara Neighborhood Watch Leader Christina Pizzaro. "It's just appalling to me."
The victim was transported to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Police say they are working with schools nearby to reduce gun violence in the city.
"A number of our officers have gone to school campuses and spoken to school administration kind of reassure them about the circumstances of this call and I don't think any of our students are in any jeopardy," says Santa Barbara Police Department Sergeant Riley Harwood.
But that's not enough for neighborhood watch leader Christina Pizzaro who is demanding common sense gun laws at a forum today.
"Such as criminal background checks, as making sure the mentally ill don't have access to guns but have access to proper mental healthcare and making sure people report any activity of a friend or someone who can be a threat to the community," says Pizzaro. "We need to speak up."
Police say they found a bicycle at the scene and can't confirm whether or not this shooting was gang related.
