In re I.D. CA2/6

Facts of the Alleged Offense2 In December 2018, Santa Maria police responded to a call after the reporting party advised there had been a gunshot in the area. Upon arrival, the officer found 18-year-old Adrian Alvarez lying on the curb, bleeding. He had a gunshot wound to the face. A spent 12-gauge shotgun shell was located near him. After medics arrived on scene, Alvarez was pronounced dead. Police conducted an investigation, interviewed witnesses, and obtained numerous search warrants to review social media posts. Over the course of their investigation, police found various messages and online posts, including a rap song posted to YouTube, that referenced an ongoing feud between the Guadalupe and West Park criminal street gangs. Appellant, who was a known associate of the Guadalupe criminal street gang, was identified as a possible suspect. In July 2022, a witness who was present with the victim the night of the shooting agreed to speak with police. The witness reported that he was sitting with Alvarez inside a vehicle when three subjects approached them on foot and called out “Guad” or “Guadalupe.” Two of the subjects were wearing masks. The witness identified the third…