Santa Maria Police investigate two back-to-back homicides

Santa Maria Police are investigating two homicides, both deadly shootings took place this past week.

Police don’t believe the two incidents are connected at this point. However, they’re not ruling out the possibility that they could be gang-related.

Information is limited right now and authorities say they have very little to go on as they search for answers.

A memorial has been set up for 18-year-old Adrian Alvarez, flowers and balloons can be seen where his shooting took place on the corner of Thornburg Street and Enos Drive.

Sarah McDonald has lived in the neighborhood where the shooting took place for 58 years, she says she is very worried about the violence happening so close to her home.

“This saddens my heart because it’s really close to where I live… this neighborhood has been, up until recently, a peaceful place in live at,” said McDonald.

The other victim, who was shot and killed last week, was 21-year-old Vincente Guerrero. Police say he was shot on the corner of Bunny Avenue and North Dejoy Street.

This brings the total number of Santa Maria homicides for 2018 to seven.

SMPD say the seven homicides were isolated incidents and although some were gang-related, they don’t know if the two that just happened fall into that category or not.

“These are all isolated incidents. A few have been verified as not gang-related, while some have been,” said Lt. VanMeel of the Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau.