Full Notification

The Sheriff’s Office continues to actively investigate a triple homicide that occurred last night, December 28, 2018, at a residence in the 5900 block of Oakhill Road in Orcutt.

The identities of the victims and the suspect are being withheld until all of the next of kin notifications are complete. Preliminary indications are that the victims all lived at the residence and were brutally stabbed and beaten to death by the suspect, who also lived at the residence. A motive for this deadly rampage is unknown at this time and is under investigation.

In addition to the investigation into the murders, the Sheriff’s Office is also conducting an officer involved shooting investigation. Deputies with the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team used less lethal munitions (40mm impact weapon and shotgun beanbag rounds) in an attempt to subdue the armed suspect. However, the suspect continued to pose an immediate threat, at which point the deputies shot him. Despite life-saving efforts by paramedics, the suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Sheriff’s Detectives and Forensics personnel have been working around the clock to process the crime scene and gather evidence. We will provide additional details once next of kin notifications have been finalized, as the investigation unfolds and as facts are confirmed.