Golden State Today

A 15-year-old male has been arrested for the attempted murder of two individuals at Haskell’s Beach in Goleta, California. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at approximately 12:51 a.m. Deputies responded to a report of a shooting and found two adult male victims, both in their early twenties, with gunshot wounds. The suspect had fled the scene before deputies arrived.

According to authorities, the suspect flashed gang signs at the victims before opening fire. One victim sustained a single gunshot wound to the hip area, while the other was shot in each leg. Both victims were transported to an area hospital and are expected to survive.

Deputies established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect. At around 2:19 a.m., they located him attempting to flee on foot. During his escape attempt, he dropped a handgun. The suspect was taken into custody and booked at Santa Maria Juvenile Hall on multiple charges including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a concealed firearm, gang enhancement, and enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

"Juveniles are not eligible for bail," authorities stated. "This case will be forwarded to Juvenile Probation for adjudication."

The handgun recovered from the scene was registered to an owner from out of the area and had not been reported stolen. It appears that there is no known connection between the suspect and the victims.