Santa Maria City Rangers continue to patrol parking structure near Town Center Mall, following shooting

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Maria City rangers continue to patrol the parking structure next to the Town Center Mall day and night.

The presence has increased since a teenager was shot and killed at that structure over two months ago.

The shooting also left a 24-year-old Santa Maria woman with significant, but non-life-threatening, injuries.

Since the fatal shooting, work is underway to make the mall safer. 

“Patrols continue over at Town Center East,” said Santa Maria Spokesman Mark van de Kamp.

Safety patrols by Santa Maria City rangers go through there at all hours.

“When we’re there, it’s during the day and it is at night,” said van de Kamp. “We don’t say which days of the week, so we can have flexibility.”

So far, those rangers report cooperation from people who have been stopped.

“Fortunately, there have been no major incidents for the last two months and they’re not supposed to be loitering or leaving trash behind or having gatherings with other vehicle clubs,” said van de Kamp.

The city of Santa Maria continues to look into the possibility of installing surveillance cameras.

“We’re evaluating our options and the funding for different types of installations which might happen,” said van de Kamp. “But at this time, we do not have a firm timetable.”