A Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered no bail for a Lompoc man suspected in the shooting death of a U.S. Army soldier who evaded capture for six to eight months in Mexico before his arrest in Santa Maria.
Walter Morales, 26, an alleged gang member, is charged with first-degree murder and several enhancements in connection to the killing of Marlon Brumfield, 22, an active duty soldier who was visiting home while on leave from Germany.Â
Morales is also suspected in two shooting incidents in Lompoc on July 11 and has yet to be charged.Â
He did not enter a plea or appear in court Tuesday, either on video or in person, due to unspecified medical reasons after being quarantined in a negative pressure housing area at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail following his arrest Friday.Â
When queried about whether Morales had contracted COVID-19, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said the department does not disclose coronavirus information specific to individual inmates.Â
During the hearing Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Gustavo Lavayen heard arguments from attorneys, who appeared via video conference in a Santa Maria courtroom, which had limited seating and required masks for spectators due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Donahue requested no bail for Morales due to past weapons- and domestic violence-related charges, citing his escape to Mexico after the shooting and calling him a flight risk.Â
Donahue also referred to the autopsy report, which documents that Brumfield had been shot four times, claiming that evidence indicates Morales was the triggerman.Â
"They just shot him in the head for no reason and left him on the sidewalk," Donahue said. "We have an individual [capable] of great violence and has every intention of fleeing again."Â
Dillon Forsyth, who was appointed as Morales' attorney, said his client should have bail set according to the schedule for non-capital crimes, arguing that he was in no position to respond to Donahue's request due to a lack of information, including a police report.Â
A Lompoc judge last week upheld the charges against a man accused of the gang-related killing of a 15-year-old boy in October 2019.
After ordering no bail, the judge continued the arraignment. Morales is set to appear remotely from the Santa Barbara County Jail on July 28 for a hearing that will be held in Superior Court in Lompoc.
Santa Maria Police and Santa Barbara County sheriff's officers, including SWAT team members, arrested Morales, who surrendered shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday following a nearly seven-hour standoff at a residence in the 1500 block of South Thornburg Street. Â
Morales was arrested nearly a year after the killing of Brumfield, who was shot near the intersection of North A Street and East Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, according to Donahue.Â
A second suspect, 25-year-old Francisco Gutierrez-Ortega, turned himself over to Santa Maria Police at the urging of his family more than a week after the shooting, Lompoc Police said.Â
Gutierrez-Ortega was charged with first-degree murder for the benefit of a street gang in September 2019 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Santa Maria court on July 31. He pleaded not guilty.Â
Lights and Sirens in Lompoc
Sunday, Sept. 26
INCIDENT — At 2:53 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 1300 block of West Fir Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 4:51 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 500 block of Newport Drive.
INCIDENT — At 5:09 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury near the intersection of West Walnut Avenue and North H Street.
INCIDENT — At 10:09 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 1300 block of North L Street.
INCIDENT — At 10:29 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a battery with serious bodily injury in the 1000 block of East Ocean Avenue.
Saturday, Sept. 25
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 9:23 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 200 block of East Olive Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 12:43 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 700 block of West Central Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 9:42 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service near the intersection of West North Avenue and North O Street that resulted in an arrest.
ARREST — At 12:36 p.m., Enrique Medellin, 23, was arrested in the 200 block of East Olive Avenue and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, non-firearm.
Friday, Sept. 24
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 10:43 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 900 block of North H Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 11:58 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 1000 block of East Ocean Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 9:55 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 700 block of West Central Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 10:48 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1100 block of East Ocean Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
ARREST — At 1:08 p.m., Samuel Mendoza, 29, was arrested on a warrant in the 1100 block of North H Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of felony resisting arrest and a probation violation.
Thursday, Sept. 23
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 10:10 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a knife in the 200 block of Huntington Place that resulted in an officer contacting and counseling a person.
ARREST — At 10:29 a.m., Charles Brandon, 21, was arrested in the 200 block of South F Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence.
Wednesday, Sept. 22
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 8:16 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 500 block of North U Street.
INCIDENT — At 12:16 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1000 block of East Ocean Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 3:06 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury in the 1500 block of North H Street.
INCIDENT — At 3:17 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 200 block of South N Street.
Tuesday, Sept. 21
UpdatedINCIDENT — At7:23 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 1300 block of North L Street.
INCIDENT — At 1:56 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 100 block of Civic Center Plaza.
INCIDENT — At 6:09 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 400 block of East Fir Avenue that resulted in an arrest/cite-release.
INCIDENT — At 6:49 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a gun in the 400 block of North M Street.
INCIDENT — At 9:56 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a shooting at a dwelling near the intersection of North O Street and West Chestnut Avenue.
Monday, Sept. 20
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 4:36 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a knife in the 1500 block of East Lemon Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 9:24 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 500 block of North S Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 9:55 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a knife in the 400 block alley of North A and B streets.
Sunday, Sept. 19
INCIDENT — At 12:15 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a weapons violation in the 400 block of North Daisy Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 12:20 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a shooting at a dwelling in the 500 block alley of North T and U streets.
INCIDENT — At 2:35 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 700 block of North F Street.
INCIDENT — At 7:56 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard near the intersection of West Olive and Bailey avenues.
Saturday, Sept. 18
INCIDENT — At 7:21 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 100 block of South Fifth Street.
Friday, Sept. 17
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 4:13 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a prowler in the 200 block of East Birch Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 1:36 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of elder abuse in the 200 block of South E Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 7:35 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury near the intersection of West Chestnut Avenue and North H Street.
INCIDENT — At 9:29 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a weapon violation in the 800 block of West Laurel Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 11:13 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a weapon violation near the intersection of North J Street and West Maple Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
Thursday, Sept. 16
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 12:44 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 700 block of East College Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 9:11 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 400 block of West North Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 12:58 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a knife in the 300 block of North Second Avenue that resulted in an officer contacting and counseling a person.
INCIDENT — At 3:36 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of arson in the 200 block of South A Street.
INCIDENT — At 7:07 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a weapon violation in the 300 block of North Y Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 10:07 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 500 block of South Avalon Street.
ARREST — At 9:59 a.m., Stevee Chapman, 25, was arrested on a warrant in the 1100 block of North H Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence.
Wednesday, Sept. 15
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 12:45 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of arson in the 200 block of South A Street.
INCIDENT — At 3:11 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service near the intersection of West Laurel Avenue and North O Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 9:53 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1100 block of North H Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 11:08 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard near the intersection of West Laurel Avenue and North O Street.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 11:10 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 500 block alley of North F and G streets.
ARREST — At 9:41 a.m., Rafael Vivanco, 20, was arrested in the 200 block of North J Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, participation in a criminal street gang, illegal possession of a firearm and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
Monday, Sept. 13
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 12:05 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a robbery in the 600 block of West Ocean Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 10:06 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1200 block of East Cypress Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 11:42 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury in the 1000 block of North H Street.
INCIDENT — At 8:55 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 100 block of Palm Drive that resulted in an arrest.
Sunday, Sept. 12
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 6:49 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 200 block of South U Street.
INCIDENT — At 12:11 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an attempted homicide in the 300 block of West Maple Avenue.
ARREST — At 4:25 a.m., Derek Young, 24, was arrested in the 40 block of Village Circle Drive and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of assault with a caustic chemical and vandalism.
Saturday, Sept. 11
INCIDENT — At 4:30 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 300 block of North E Street that resulted in an arrest/cite-release.
INCIDENT — At 9:32 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an attempted homicide in the 600 block of West Maple Avenue that resulted in an arrest.
ARREST — At 7:08 p.m., Shayna Coleman, 32, was arrested in the 300 block of North L Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury.
Friday, Sept. 10
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 2:30 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a battery with serious bodily injury in the 300 block of North L Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 6:11 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury near the intersection of East North Avenue and North H Street.
Thursday, Sept. 9
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 1:07 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 600 block of North Fourth Street.
INCIDENT — At 2:54 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 900 block of North N Place.
INCIDENT — At 4:38 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a vehicle collision with a minor injury in the 300 block of West College Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 6:20 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a death investigation in the 400 block of West Pine Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 9:25 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an attempted homicide in the 2200 block of North H Street.
ARREST — At 9:22 p.m., Gabriel Vargas, 22, was arrested in the 600 block of North Ninth Street and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of robbery, witness intimidation, burglary, false imprisonment, domestic violence, vandalism, theft and child cruelty.
Wednesday, Sept. 8
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 9:37 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a shooting at a dwelling in the 700 block of North E Street.
Tuesday, Sept. 7
UpdatedINCIDENT —At 1:06 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault on a first responder in the 500 block of West College Avenue.
Monday, Sept. 6
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 6:55 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a gun in the 500 block of East Highway 246.
Sunday, Sept. 5
INCIDENT — At 2:51 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 300 block of North Second Street that resulted in an arrest/cite-release.
INCIDENT — At 8:14 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a knife near the intersection of East Walnut Avenue and North Seventh Street.
ARREST — At 1:21 a.m., Alfonso Martinez, 26, was arrested in the 1100 block of East Ocean Avenue and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence.
Saturday, Sept. 4
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 12:53 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1000 block of North H Street that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 8:42 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 200 block alley of North K and L streets that resulted in an arrest.
INCIDENT — At 9:18 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an evasion/failure to yield in the 700 block alley of North E and F streets.
INCIDENT — At 11:01 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots fired/heard in the 600 block of North Z Street.
Friday, Sept. 3
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 1:38 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1200 block of West Maple Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 1:44 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 1500 block of East Ocean Avenue.
Thursday, Sept. 2
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 12:32 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of arson near the intersection of East Cypress Avenue and South A Street.
INCIDENT — At 10:42 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a warrant service in the 1500 block of North H Street that resulted in an arrest.
Wednesday, Sept. 1
UpdatedINCIDENT — At 4:13 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of fireworks in the 200 block of West North Avenue.