“Granny’s Field” Stabbing Suspect Nabbed
Goleta– In the early afternoon of January 31st, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s 911 Emergency Call Center Dispatch received a call from a reported stabbing victim located at the rear of the Turnpike Shopping Center CVS Pharmacy retail store. According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, “the victim suffered from a stab wound in the upper shoulder.”
Luis Velasquez
Responding deputies quickly learned that the violence had taken place in the vicinity of an area with a reputation as an illegal homeless encampment known to locals as “Granny’s Field”. Witness statements given to deputies made it apparent that the likely suspect had fled on foot toward nearby railroad tracks and was likely hiding in that area. As detailed in Hoover’s report to the media, on-scene deputies summoned backup support from the SBSD Aviation (helicopter) Unit, local area patrol units, and a Canine Unit.
With those resources in place—and with no suspect yet in sight—deputies promptly went to nearby El Camino Middle School and San Marcos High School to secure both campuses in a “precautionary lockdown”. Both lockdowns persisted for approximately 30 minutes, during which time investigators located another victim who had been assaulted and battered with a blunt object by the same reported suspect. Interviews of that victim and additional witnesses revealed that an argument had erupted among transients living in “Granny’s Field” which quickly escalated to violence.
Pursuant to the multi-task force surveillance and search of the area, Luis Velasquez, 30, was found hiding in the encampment; he was then identified by witnesses and arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Both victims were transported to Cottage Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening wounds while Velasquez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $30,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
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