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Prosecutors seek to try Santa Maria murder suspects as adults

June 2, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is seeking to move the trials of three suspects in a 2023 murder in Santa Maria from juvenile court to adult court. The three suspects were minors at the time of the murder.

On Oct. 21, 2023, Arthur Pichardo was shot and killed at a large backyard party on the 1000 block of North School Street. Three other victims survived gunshot wounds.

Last week, Santa Maria detectives arrested one of the suspects in Kern County on charges of homicide with gang enhancements. The two other suspects, who were all underage at the time of the murder, were already in custody on unrelated charges.

Because all three murder suspects were underage at the time of the shooting, they are being held in juvenile hall.

The three suspects are facing  charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime.

 


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Well I applaud the Ace Hardware staff for taking on such a daunting task…. bravo to them. Assuming that your demeaner was only matched by your unkept state of fashionble pickleball attire and bandaged leg wounds…. hats off to them for encouraging a positive work environment no matter at what stage of cognitive decline or perceived homelessness they see walking through their front doors :) Well done Ace Hardware…well done!!!!


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I can only assume that your response is to the recent article by Dell Franklin.. https://calcoastnews.com/2025/06/friendliest-hardware-store-in-america/


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