Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested

Tanglewood, Santa Maria - January 13th, 2012

An attempted murder investigation has lead to the arrest of a Tanglewood man and a Santa Maria woman.

In the late morning of Sunday, January 8, 2012, 27-year old Sergio Marquez of Santa Maria and a second male entered the Marian Medical Center Emergency Room seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to Marquez’s neck. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the hospital when it became apparent  that the shooting may have occurred in Tanglewood west of Santa Maria, which is in the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.

Over the next few days, an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Gang Unit and Narcotics Enforcement Unit determined that 28-year old Rudolph Paul Rojas shot Marquez with a rifle Sunday morning during an altercation between the two men at Rojas’ home on the 2000 block of Tanglewood Drive.

Shortly after 7:00pm, on Thursday, January 12, 2012, Sheriff’s detectives and the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team (equivalent of SWAT) served a search and arrest warrant at Rojas’ home on Tanglewood Drive. During the service of the warrant, Rojas attempted to flee out the back of the home, but was arrested immediately without incident. Sheriff’s detectives and deputies searched the home and recovered a rifle believed to be used in the shooting, as well as more than three grams of methamphetamine, and paraphernalia indicative of illicit drug sales.

Rojas was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $1-million dollars bail for attempted homicide (664/187 PC), discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling (246 PC), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (12021(a)(1) PC), possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (12316(a)(1) PC), and possession of methamphetamine for sales (11378 H&S). Rojas’ girlfriend Alicia Anica Hernandez (DOB 4/7/91) was also arrested at the Tanglewood home Thursday evening and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $20,000 bail for aiding and abetting (32 PC). The investigation continued today and more charges may be forthcoming.

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