San Luis Obispo man arrested in attack on homeless Santa Maria man | Crime and courts

Police responded around 7:30 a.m. Sunday to reports of a person in a commercial parking lot in the 1700 block of S. Broadway in Santa Maria. When they arrived, the police discovered a 28-year-old man, apparently a transient, who had been shot several times while crossing the parking lot around 3 a.m. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is being treated, according to police.

Santa Maria detectives took over the investigation and identified Ochoa as the primary suspect. Ochoa, who worked as an unarmed private security guard responsible for the security of construction equipment and supplies near the crime scene, illegally carried a loaded firearm at the construction site before the shooting, according to police. Ochoa allegedly never informed law enforcement of the shooting and left the scene immediately afterward.

After obtaining an arrest warrant for attempted murder and a search warrant for Ochoa's residence, SMPD officers, with assistance from the SMPD SWAT Team and the Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Bureau of Santa Barbara County, executed the arrest warrants at Ochoa's residence in the 200 block of Avila Beach. Drive to San Luis Obispo around 2 a.m. Monday.

Ochoa was taken into custody without incident and evidence related to the investigation was reportedly found at his home.

Ochoa was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on attempted murder charges and is being held on $1 million bond. Investigators believe Ochoa may be connected to other crimes in which a firearm was discharged and are working on additional investigative efforts.

Anyone with information relating to the investigation or other crimes possibly involving Ochoa and the discharge of a firearm is asked to contact Detective Erik Hesch at (805) 928-3781 ext. 1349 or Detective Neil Patel at station 1349. 1680.