Kevin Nunez-Escamilla, 20, of Santa Maria, California, was found with a fatal gunshot wound on December 18, 2020, in the 800 block of West Donovan Road shortly before 4:30 p.m. Officers who responded discovered him unresponsive; the wound proved fatal.

Investigators identified a suspect, 20-year-old Jesus Juarez Garcilazo of Santa Maria. With assistance from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, Garcilazo was located in Lindsay, Tulare County, and arrested on December 22, 2020. He was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail and booked on suspicion of murder with bail set at $2 million. In Superior Court in Santa Maria he pleaded not guilty and denied a firearm-enhancement; a preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 11, 2021. The police have not disclosed whether the killing was gang-related, so the motive remains unclear.

If anyone knew Kevin or has information about what happened on West Donovan Road that afternoon, please share what you know.