Santa Barbara man Isaiah Ramirez Alexander, 36, is going through greater than 121 years in jail after being discovered responsible of second diploma homicide in connection to the Pacifica Suites Resort taking pictures final February that left a Goleta man lifeless, Santa Barbara County District Lawyer John Savrnoch introduced on Monday.
Along with the homicide conviction, the jury additionally discovered Alexander responsible of taking pictures at an inhabited automobile and housebreaking, in addition to a number of particular allegations and enhancements, together with discharging a firearm inflicting demise, having two prior violent strikes, and committing crimes whereas out-on-bail for 2 different offenses.
In accordance with the announcement, Alexander burglarized an house in Santa Barbara on February 9, 2022, which led to a violent altercation between Alexander and 43-year-old Richard Cardona of Goleta the next day on the Pacifica Suites Resort on Hollister Avenue. The confrontation led to a shootout inside one of many lodge rooms, inflicting Cardona to flee to his automobile, whereupon he was chased down and shot by Alexander. Alexander then fled the scene of the crime and tried to hide the homicide weapon in addition to the firearm journal and ammunition.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to experiences of photographs fired on the lodge, the place they noticed damaged glass and a pool of blood however couldn’t find the shooter or sufferer. The extreme quantity of blood brought on the authorities to alert close by hospitals {that a} potential gunshot sufferer would search medical help. It was later found that Cardona had gone to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital simply over an hour after the taking pictures and was reported to be bleeding from the pinnacle. Shortly after arriving on the hospital, Cardona was pronounced lifeless from his wounds.
4 days following the taking pictures at Pacifica Suites, Alexander burglarized the Riviera Market on Micheltorena Road. Alexander was arrested on a number of expenses, together with first-degree homicide on that very same day, February 14, 2022, close to a lodge on the 1600 block of State Road.
Alexander was out on bail through the time for prior carjacking, tried theft, felony housebreaking, id theft, and forgery expenses, all of that are nonetheless pending and open circumstances within the Santa Barbara County Courtroom system.
Alexander is at present being held with out bail and awaits his sentencing listening to, which is about for October 19, 2023, in Santa Barbara Superior Courtroom. In accordance with the District Lawyer’s Workplace, Alexander faces greater than 121 years to life due to his present expenses and former felony historical past.
DA Sarvnoch thanked Santa Barbara Sheriff’s personnel, led by Detective Maxwell, for “excellent work on a tough investigation,” and the prosecution workforce, led by Senior Deputy Kevin Weichbrod, for his or her “work in holding this particular person accountable for his actions.”
Anthony Torres Lopez Jr., 37, was additionally arrested in connection to the Cardona murder investigation in February 2022 and was booked for an extended listing of felony expenses consisting of possession of managed substances whereas armed, tried extortion, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition, hid firearm in a automobile, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two enhancements, together with second-strike allegation and having a earlier felony conviction.
Lopez posted bail two days later, however was arrested once more in July 2022 for 2 felony expenses — assault and battery with pressure prone to produce nice bodily harm — and particular enhancements for his third violent offense. Lopez Jr. pleaded not responsible to the entire expenses and denied each enhancement in connection to each circumstances, and his bail was set at $1.15 million. He at present stays in custody in Santa Barbara County Jail whereas awaiting his preliminary listening to on August 8.
