On the evening of June 22, 2024, a shooting outside a residence hosting a large party in the 400 block of North Benwiley Street in Santa Maria left 27-year-old Miguel Pablo-Morelos dead. Officers arrived about 10:13 PM and found two males with gunshot wounds; both were taken to Marian Regional Medical Center, where Miguel Pablo-Morelos died. A 19-year-old male sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to recover.

Detectives identified a 17-year-old male Santa Maria resident with known gang affiliations as the suspected shooter and obtained a murder arrest warrant. The suspect was located in Santa Barbara and arrested on June 25, 2024, in the 500 block of East Ortega Street without incident. A 16-year-old male associate at the residence was also arrested on an unrelated felony juvenile probation warrant. Both juveniles were booked into Santa Maria Juvenile Hall.

This was Santa Maria’s first homicide of 2024. The investigation remained active and authorities asked anyone with information to contact Detective Swenson or the Communications Center, or submit an anonymous tip through the SMPD Tip Line. Did anyone at the party or nearby see activity that could help investigators?