Local Man Survives Attempted Robbery at Gunpoint

A Santa Barbara man is grateful to be alive after being held up at gunpoint. West Beach resident Gary Lytle wants to remind everyone to be aware of your surroundings.

Lytle was walking home from work Monday night with his head in his phone. As he was just feet away from his residence, an armed man in his 20s wearing a grey hoodie and a red, plastic devil mask popped out of the bushes asking for Lytle’s wallet and phone.

It was then when Lytle said he did everything he wasn’t supposed to do when confronted by a gunman. He threw his phone out of reach, over his front door gate, and did not comply immediately. He then quickly realized that if the gunman shot his weapon, his 3-year-old son’s bedroom would be directly threatened. Lytle then stepped toward the gunman, reaching for his wallet and stating that the man can take all his credit cards and ID but that he didn’t have any cash.

The gunman shook his head and took off without causing any injury, according to Lytle. Santa Barbara police arrived within 5 minutes with a police canine. No one was found.

Authorities do remind folks to be more attentive, and to not engage with a gunman.