“Gunshots just ripped through the whole house” – Police investigate Thanksgiving shooting, man who called it in also arrested
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara Police are investigating a Thanksgiving night shooting but the person who called the shooting in, also ended up behind bars.
Investigators know there are over five shots fired and while the incident is still under investigation, they know the shots were purposely fired in a specific direction, but they’re trying to figure out why.
“They shot driving by, they’re obviously not very good,” said Wyatt Trefz, surveying the damage done to his mother’s Alisos Street home.
“This is exactly where I was, in my doorway with my girlfriend. Had I not hugged her and told her to come in from that side of the house she could be gone today,” said Trefz, showing us how close the bullets came to hitting himself or a loved one.
Trefz says the Thanksgiving shooting all stemmed from a dispute over parking, but police say they are investigating the accuracy of his story.
Officials confirm the 18-year-old was arrested during the investigation and was uncooperative.
“I said to the guy ‘hey man, next time you come around can you not park here please, this is where my mom parks. She’s on her way here right now and she’s going to say the same thing to you,' he said ok we're leaving,” said Trefz.
Trefz says the two exchanged words and it got hostile. Then an hour later, “all I hear is just bullets, the car driving by, gunshots just ripped through the whole house,” said Trefz.
Home security cameras captured what Trefz describes.
Viewers asked us only to share their audio but you can see what looks like a dark-colored jeep driving down the street followed by a person running.
Police also have the footage.
“Evidence in the form of video is everywhere. You can’t get away with much in the City of Santa Barbara without the police being able to work with the community to track down all these leads to bring the right person to justice,” said Anthony Wagner, Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Trefz says as police were investigating he asked if he could leave the house because he was scared to be there. Eventually, he was taken into custody.
“I left New York so I could come to an environment where I can get a good education and good things and this is just shocking to me,” said Trefz.
Police say the man was charged with delaying an investigation, being under the influence of a controlled substance and vandalism.
Wagner says when looking at his time in Santa Barbara, this is the first time he’s heard of a shooting on Thanksgiving.
