Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Detectives need the
public’s help in identifying an accomplice in connection to a shooting at Old
Mission Santa Ines on Sunday evening.
The suspect and an unidentified female accomplice were
being sought by police as of April 29.
The shooting took place shortly after 7 p.m. April 26.
Deputies responded to the mission after receiving a call
about a shooting on the premises.
An unidentified 32-year-old Solvang man was shot twice
and was treated at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital for non-life threatening
wounds to his knee and arm.
The victim’s name has not been released because of the
ongoing investigation.
Detectives believe the victim was lured to the parking
lot by a female accomplice as part of a plan to rob the victim, according to a
Sherriff’s Department news release.
Detectives have learned that the victim met up with his
assailants Sunday afternoon in a pizza restaurant in the 400 block of Alisal Road.
The male suspect in the shooting has been identified as
38-year-old Eddie Rojo. Rojo’s
city of residence is unknown, but he is believed to have Solvang ties.
His female accomplice, an unidentified female, is
described as being Caucasian, with a light complexion, between 22 and 25 years
of age, with blue or green eyes and reddish brown hair.
She allegedly lured the victim to the parking lot where Rojo attempted to rob him.
The shooting occurred during the robbery, and the two
suspects then fled without any money from the victim.
Sheriff’s spokesman Drew Sugars would not release
information about prior arrests or convictions on Rojo’s
law enforcement record, citing department policy.
The date of the Sheriff’s Department booking photograph
released for him was not available.
It’s not clear whether Rojo,
the victim, and the female accomplice were acquainted prior to the Sunday
afternoon at the restaurant.
The shooting is thought to be the first such incident
this year in Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley. The victim has been released
from Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. As of 3 p.m. on April 29, there had
been no further details regarding the whereabouts of the suspects, but
sheriff’s personnel were investigating all available leads.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the
suspects, or the identity of the woman, is urged to contact Sheriff’s
Detectives at 805-686-5006 or the Department’s Anonymous Tipline
at 805-681-4171.