Officers found justified in deadly Goleta apartment shooting

GOLETA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office says officers were justified in a deadly officer-involved shooting in Goleta in May of 2019.

The DA's office announced Thursday it had completed its review of the investigation into the death of Francisco Anthony Alcaraz Jr., 32.

He was killed at an apartment complex on Camino de Vida in Goleta on May 7.

Santa Barbara police had been investigating two gang-related shootings. As part of the investigation, they obtained an arrest warrant for Alcaraz on a charge of attempted murder involving a gun.

Detectives got a search warrant for an apartment in Goleta, where they say he lived part-time with his wife and four children.

Officers went to the apartment to serve the warrant, but didn't get a response from Alcaraz so they went in through the front door. That's when investigators say Alcaraz fired three to four rounds at the officers.

An officer returned fire and the rest went outside the apartment.

They say Alcaraz fired at them again from a second story bedroom window.

Officers again returned fire and nearby apartments were evacuated. A stretch of Highway 101 was also closed during the response and investigation.

Officers eventually were able to get back into the apartment, where they found Alcaraz with four gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. Investigators say they determined the gunshot wounds were not from close-range, and thus they were not self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The DA's office says when Alcaraz began shooting at officers, his actions created a fear of death or injury and that the officers acted in self defense when firing back.

To read the district attorney's full report, click here.