Activists speaks out in wake of Bryan Carreno’s death

Social justice activists are upset by the death of Bryan Carreno.

Carreno, 26, was shot and killed by deputies following reports that he was jumping fences and entering homes near North La Cumbre Road on Sunday night.

Candice Perez is a spokeswoman for PODER, People Organized for the Defense & Equal Rights of Santa Barbara Youth.

“His family called in order to get him help. He was going through something. It is so sad, we run the risk of them being killed by the people who are supposed to help them,” Perez said.

Perez said he will be remembered as an activist in the fight against Santa Barbara’s proposed gang injunction.

Although his name was on an injunction list Perez said he was never convicted of gang offenses.

In a 2011 YouthCineMedia video posted on YouTube, Carreno is heard saying, “I’ll just keep my head up, keep moving forward, prove everybody wrong, you know what I mean, actions speak louder than words.”

Back then he was a 21-year-old father, an aspiring musician, and a Santa Barbara City college student.

Deputies released a report on Monday that said he had a knife when officers fatally shot him on Sunday night.

PODER members worry he feared for his life after being chased.

“It is really a shame how quickly we paint a smear campaign launched against Bryan’s character in order to justify what happened to him,” said Perez.

She believes the mental health and law enforcement system are broken.

Activists want to know the names of the officers involved.

They have postponed a vigil at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse until next Wed., Feb., 22 from 6:30 -8 p.m.

They are planning to hold a vigil for Carreno at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.