Photo: Robert Anthony Molina
January 10, 2021 – Santa Barbara County, Ca.
The New Year got off to a violent start in the City of Santa Maria with the shooting death of 35- year-old local area resident Kevin Najarro.
With 2021 not even a week old, Santa Maria Police Department patrol units responded to a 911 Emergency call late in the afternoon of January 2nd and discovered Najarro “dead with multiple gunshot wounds,” according to Santa Maria PD spokesman Lt. Jesse Silva. Investigation at the scene indicated that the shooting was not gang-related.
Further investigation by detectives late into the night and “through the weekend” after the shooting lead to the identification of 35-year-old Santa Maria resident Robert Anthony Molina as the principal suspect. An arrest warrant was promptly issued for Molina, and on January 4th he was “tracked down” to a North Depot Street residence.
Molina—already on parole for a 2020 robbery and violent assault conviction—was contacted by taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and use of a firearm to cause great bodily injury. His charges include multiple sentencing enhancements as well as a second strike allegation. He remains in custody with his bail set at $4,000,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
