5 juveniles arrested in Santa Barbara on attempted murder charges

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Five juveniles have been arrested in connection with violent assaults in Goleta and Carpinteria that occurred in March, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives served search warrants in Santa Barbara on Tuesday and arrested two minors, according to Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

Three other suspects were arrested on March 31 in Santa Barbara.

The first assault, on Friday March 6, was reported around 7:46 p.m. Deputies were called to the 5700-block of Hollister Avenue.

Investigators found a 14-year-old victim who had severe injuries. The victim was taken to the hospital.

A second victim was also attacked less severely.

"The suspects fled the area prior to the arrival of responding deputies," Zick wrote.

Investigators said they learned several suspects attacked the victims with weapons including hammers, bats, pipes and a machete.

Later that evening, at 9:42 p.m., deputies were called to the 4500-block of Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria to a report of another fight.

The Sheriff's Office said several males, armed with the same variety of weapons that were used in the Goleta attack, attempted to assault another group of males.

No victims were hurt during the Carpinteria assault. All of the suspects ran off before deputies arrived.

The five juveniles have been booked at the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall for attempted murder, attempted murder in association with a criminal street gang, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, and personal infliction of great bodily injury.