Santa Barbara County deputies arrest fifth suspect over fatal stabbing

Final Arrest Caps Year-Long Investigation

Santa Barbara County sheriff's detectives arrested the fifth and final suspect last week in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old near Goleta, bringing to a close a year-long investigation that has resulted in murder charges against five individuals.

The latest suspect, a 16-year-old male, was arrested at his Santa Barbara home in the 900 block of San Pascual Street on May 28, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. The teen faces charges of murder and conspiracy with a gang enhancement in juvenile court.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect was already on juvenile probation with GPS monitoring for unrelated offenses, CalCoastNews reported.

The Fatal Attack in Goleta

The investigation began on April 30, 2025, when deputies responded around 8:48 p.m. to reports of a person down near San Simeon Drive and Turnpike Road in the Goleta area. The 17-year-old victim had been stabbed and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, where he died at approximately 9:33 p.m.

KEYT News reported that eyewitnesses believed the stabbing was connected to graffiti found at nearby locations, including an apartment carport and sidewalk areas. Several male suspects fled the scene before first responders arrived.

While officials have not publicly identified the victim, Noozhawk reported that family members identified him in a GoFundMe as Damien Hernandez.

Five Suspects, Multiple Cases

The arrests unfolded over more than a year as investigators worked with prosecutors to identify all individuals involved:

June 16, 2025: Three arrests were made simultaneously. Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Sanabia Garcia was arrested at his Santa Barbara home and later pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy charges. Two 16-year-old males were also arrested that day — one at his home on West Canon Perdido Street and another who was already in custody at the Santa Maria Juvenile Detention Facility on unrelated charges.

July 24, 2025: Twenty-year-old Adelfo Calles was arrested on murder and conspiracy charges but was subsequently released pending review by the District Attorney's Office. He was re-arrested on May 9, 2026, after a warrant was issued.

May 28, 2026: The final suspect, the 16-year-old now facing gang enhancement charges, was taken into custody.

Gang Activity Concerns for Central Coast

The gang enhancement charge against the latest suspect reflects broader concerns about youth gang involvement in Santa Barbara County. A 2023 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury report found that middle and grade school students were increasingly being recruited into gangs, while county juvenile programs and law enforcement resources had steadily declined.

Sheriff's officials estimated "thousands" of gang members exist across 18 named groups in the county, according to the grand jury report. In Lompoc alone, approximately 600 gang members were documented.

However, other data from the South Coast Youth Safety Partnership has shown a significant decrease in gang-related youth offenses over the past decade, with the number of youths on probation with gang terms dropping from 245 in 2009 to 68 in 2018.

Investigation Continues

Sheriff Bill Brown praised the persistence of investigators in a statement released June 2. "This case is a testament to the determination and professionalism of our detectives," Brown said. "Even after the initial arrests were made, investigators remained steadfast in their commitment to uncovering every person's role in this homicide."

The investigation remains active as the criminal cases move through the court system. Most of the suspects' cases are still pending, with the exception of Garcia's guilty plea and one juvenile case that has been concluded in juvenile court.

The case highlights the collaborative effort between Santa Barbara County sheriff's detectives, local police departments, and prosecutors to ensure all individuals believed responsible for violent crimes are held accountable through the justice system.