Santa Maria Police Investigation into Fatal Shooting Leads to Three Arrests: Andrew Paul Garcia, Arnulfo Villavicencio-Ramirez, and David Olaf Barajas Face Charges in Connection with Botched Robbery and Murder of Joshua Anthony Maldonado.
A thorough investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department has led to the arrest of three men in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during a botched robbery attempt in December. Andrew Paul Garcia, Arnulfo Villavicencio-Ramirez, and David Olaf Barajas have been charged in relation to the incident, which resulted in the death of Joshua Anthony Maldonado.
On December 17, officers responded to a shooting at a residential gathering in the 500 block of West Cook Street, where they found two men wounded. Maldonado, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second injured man was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.
Detectives determined that the shootings occurred during a botched armed-robbery attempt, in which Maldonado and Garcia attempted to rob people at the gathering by gunpoint. Garcia is suspected of shooting both the partygoer who survived with critical injuries and his associate, Maldonado, during the botched robbery attempt.
Villavicencio-Ramirez and Barajas allegedly participated and conspired in the robbery, leading to multiple arrest and search warrants being issued. The SMPD SWAT Team and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau assisted in the warrant-service operation, resulting in the arrests of Villavicencio-Ramirez and Garcia. Barajas is currently in custody at North Kern State Prison for an unrelated case and will face new charges in connection with the December incident.
Garcia was booked on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, robbery, and conspiracy, with bail set at $1 million. Villavicencio-Ramirez was booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy, while Barajas faces charges for robbery and conspiracy, with bail set at $250,000.
The Santa Maria Police Department is urging anyone with information related to this investigation to come forward and contact Detective Whitney or the Communications Center.
In conclusion, the swift and thorough investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department has led to the arrest of three men in connection with a fatal shooting and botched robbery attempt. The community is safer thanks to the dedication and hard work of the SMPD and their partner agencies.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of armed robbery and the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities. The Santa Maria Police Department is committed to keeping the community safe and ensuring justice is served.
