Search for man suspected in fatal shooting of soldier leads to Santa Maria

Police officers surrounded a house in Santa Maria on Friday afternoon where they believed a Lompoc homicide suspect was hiding.

Early Friday afternoon, Walter A. Morales Jr., a suspect in the fatal shooting of an Army soldier home on leave, reportedly was seen at the residence on Thornburg between Enos Drive and Battles Road.

Officers converged on the area and were attempting to make contact with the suspect, Santa Maria police Cmdr. Dan Cohen said.

A police command post was set up in the parking lot at the Minami Community Center a few blocks away as a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office helicopter circled overhead.

Cohen said they were awaiting additional resources from the Sheriff’s Office.

Members of the Lompoc Police Department also were involved in the operation.

Morales has been sought in connection with a number of shootings in Lompoc, including the Sept. 8 killing of Army Spc. Marlon Brumfield, who was gunned down while walking near the intersection of East Ocean Avenue and A Street just before 2 a.m.

Francisco Gutierrez Ortega, 24, of Santa Maria was arrested shortly after the shooting of the 22-year-old soldier, while Morales remained on the loose.

Lompoc police said Brumfield was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities believe the shooting involved gang activity since both suspects are affiliated with a Lompoc criminal street gang.

However, police have said they do not believe Brumfield had any gang affiliation.

Last weekend, Morales reportedly was involved in a pair of drive-by shootings, including at a vehicle that included adults and children in Lompoc.