UPDATE (5:20 p.m.) – A suspect was found dead after a police standoff in Goleta on Tuesday.
At about 12:45 p.m., Santa Barbara police attempted to serve a high-risk search warrant for a wanted person at an apartment complex off Camino De Vida.
Authorities say the suspect fired a gun at the officers and police returned fire.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies responded when the suspect refused to surrender.
The standoff lasted for several hours with the suspect apparently barricaded inside an apartment building.
Authorities say after being unable to make contact with the suspect for some time, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad robot was sent to check out the apartment and determined the suspect was dead.
It’s unknown at this time if the suspect was struck by an officer’s bullet, suffered a self-inflicted wound or died of another cause.
During the standoff, nearby San Marcos High School was placed on lockdown as a precaution and Highway 101, which is adjacent to the apartment complex, was shut down in both directions. It is now open.
Some residents were also evacuated. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says the Red Cross is setting up a shelter for those residents at the Goleta Community Center while the investigation continues. It’s unknown when they will be allowed to return home.
UPDATE (4:20 p.m.) – Santa Barbara County officials say the request for people in the Camino De Vida area to shelter in place has been lifted.
“Some residents that live in a building(s) directly affected by this event may be directed to a temporary shelter,” officials said in a Tweet.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities remain on scene.
UPDATE (3:52 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrol says Highway 101 is now back open through the Goleta area. Traffic remains backed up.
UPDATE (2:32 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrol has closed Highway 101 in both directions from Turnpike Road to Patterson Avenue in Goleta due to police activity in the area.
Drivers are being diverted off the highway and officers are asking people to avoid the area.
UPDATE (1:40 p.m.) – Santa Barbara police say officers were serving a high-risk search warrant for a wanted person Tuesday afternoon in Goleta when that person fired a gun at officers.
It all started at about 12:45 p.m. at the Positano Apartment complex off Camino De Vida.
Authorities have set up a perimeter around the area and police say they believe the suspect is still in that perimeter and is unable to get out.
They are reportedly trying to communicate with the suspect and convince that person to surrender peacefully.
There are no reports of injuries at this time.
UPDATE (1:20 p.m.) – Authorities are investigating a “shots fired” incident in the area of Camino De Vida and Turnpike Rd. in Goleta.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials say some residents have been evacuated while others are being told to shelter-in-place.
Nearby San Marcos High School is on lockdown as a precaution.
People are being asked to avoid the area.
(1:10 p.m.) – San Marcos High School in Goleta was placed on lockdown Tuesday and residents in the area of Camino De Vida and Turnpike Rd. were told to shelter-in-place because of nearby law enforcement activity.
No further details about the incident were immediately made available.
Santa Barbara County officials asked residents not to call 911 for information.
