With Sales of Firearms and Ammunition On the Rise in California, So Goes the Rise in Crime
Santa Barbara: No Longer Immune
Waves of gun violence have crashed upon Santa Barbara's calm shores. The constant and now familiar knifing attacks have given way to more violent acts by gunfire. More and more shootings are taking place throughout well-known Santa Barbara areas such as the downtown, Milpas, and Mesa neighborhoods.
Almost one year ago, in September 2008, Santa Barbara's west downtown neighborhood became the scene of a shootout, between rival "eastside" gang members. Sebastian Cuvarrubias, a 22 year-old suspected gang member, shot and wounded two rival gang members on the intersection of De La Vina and W. Gutierrez Streets.
Witnesses claim that violence has been ongoing. Santa Barbara police apprehended Mr. Covarrubias, who was in possession of an explosive known as a "Molotov Cocktail." He faces attempted murder and federal explosive charges. As a result, The West Downtown Neighborhood Group has taken a role in engaging neighbors to form a neighborhood watch group to keep neighbors and the community safe and alert.
On the morning of March 22, 2009 the Milpas neighborhood awoke to the sound of a pump action shot gun allegedly operated by David Allison who, witnesses claim, aimed and shot indiscriminately into a crowd at the Jack-inthe- Box parking lot located at North Milpas Street.
Witnesses maintain the shooting was a direct retaliation by David Allison and his brother James Allison, against a customer. They allege that the brothers engaged in an exchange of words with the victim, who then vowed to return and did with a shotgun. James entered the restaurant, while David remained in the car and began shooting in the parking lot. After several rounds of gunfire, David and James attempted to escape police vehicles dispatched to the location.
After a high-speed car chase and a collision with a police vehicle, the Allison brothers lost control of their truck and flipped it over on the Milpas roundabout. The shooting created considerable fear and concern among residents in the area and throughout Santa Barbara.
Forward two months later. Location: the beautiful Mesa area. In the early hours of May 4, 2009, two Mesa attorneys, Daniel Patrick Lyons, 55, and Barbara Lorene Scharton, 48, were gunned down by the brother, Corey John Lyons. The incident took place at the victims' newly constructed three-story Mesa home. Court records suggest that the victims had recently filed a civil lawsuit against their contractor/brother, Corey Lyons, alleging the defendant had committed extortion and other crimes against the couple.
This double homicide sent shockwaves throughout the Mesa community and the greater Santa Barbara area since many believe shootings "are not supposed to happen in Santa Barbara." Neighbors recall the victims as being quiet and pleasant neighbors who resided at the property only part-time. Both commuted between their Santa Barbara and Fresno law firms. Corey John Lyons faces murder charges for the deadly shooting of his brother, and his brother's partner.
These violent shootings and other acts of aggression have dramatically altered our sense of well-being and security in Santa Barbara - a city that was once praised for its serenity and safety. It has become a harsh reality that Santa Barbara faces the same challenges of gun violence and other violent crimes as our neighbors on the Central Coast.
We must now ask ourselves what actions we should take as a proactive community. What will be our goals? More importantly, how will we execute a successful, productive plan to reduce gun violence and other crimes from occurring in Santa Barbara? One answer is an active, ongoing, and productive collaboration between the community, a responsive and assertive City Council, and an alert and preemptive Police Department. The choice is ours.
-Christina Pizarro
Coalition Against Gun Violence, Blog Editor
Community Organizer
With Sales of Firearms and Ammunition On the Rise in California, So Goes the Rise in Crime
Santa Barbara: No Longer Immune
Waves of gun violence have crashed upon Santa Barbara's calm shores. The constant and now familiar knifing attacks have given way to more violent acts by gunfire. More and more shootings are taking place throughout well-known Santa Barbara areas such as the downtown, Milpas, and Mesa neighborhoods.
Almost one year ago, in September 2008, Santa Barbara's west downtown neighborhood became the scene of a shootout, between rival "eastside" gang members. Sebastian Cuvarrubias, a 22 year-old suspected gang member, shot and wounded two rival gang members on the intersection of De La Vina and W. Gutierrez Streets.
Witnesses claim that violence has been ongoing. Santa Barbara police apprehended Mr. Covarrubias, who was in possession of an explosive known as a "Molotov Cocktail." He faces attempted murder and federal explosive charges. As a result, The West Downtown Neighborhood Group has taken a role in engaging neighbors to form a neighborhood watch group to keep neighbors and the community safe and alert.
On the morning of March 22, 2009 the Milpas neighborhood awoke to the sound of a pump action shot gun allegedly operated by David Allison who, witnesses claim, aimed and shot indiscriminately into a crowd at the Jack-inthe- Box parking lot located at North Milpas Street.
Witnesses maintain the shooting was a direct retaliation by David Allison and his brother James Allison, against a customer. They allege that the brothers engaged in an exchange of words with the victim, who then vowed to return and did with a shotgun. James entered the restaurant, while David remained in the car and began shooting in the parking lot. After several rounds of gunfire, David and James attempted to escape police vehicles dispatched to the location.
After a high-speed car chase and a collision with a police vehicle, the Allison brothers lost control of their truck and flipped it over on the Milpas roundabout. The shooting created considerable fear and concern among residents in the area and throughout Santa Barbara.
Forward two months later. Location: the beautiful Mesa area. In the early hours of May 4, 2009, two Mesa attorneys, Daniel Patrick Lyons, 55, and Barbara Lorene Scharton, 48, were gunned down by the brother, Corey John Lyons. The incident took place at the victims' newly constructed three-story Mesa home. Court records suggest that the victims had recently filed a civil lawsuit against their contractor/brother, Corey Lyons, alleging the defendant had committed extortion and other crimes against the couple.
This double homicide sent shockwaves throughout the Mesa community and the greater Santa Barbara area since many believe shootings "are not supposed to happen in Santa Barbara." Neighbors recall the victims as being quiet and pleasant neighbors who resided at the property only part-time. Both commuted between their Santa Barbara and Fresno law firms. Corey John Lyons faces murder charges for the deadly shooting of his brother, and his brother's partner.
These violent shootings and other acts of aggression have dramatically altered our sense of well-being and security in Santa Barbara - a city that was once praised for its serenity and safety. It has become a harsh reality that Santa Barbara faces the same challenges of gun violence and other violent crimes as our neighbors on the Central Coast.
We must now ask ourselves what actions we should take as a proactive community. What will be our goals? More importantly, how will we execute a successful, productive plan to reduce gun violence and other crimes from occurring in Santa Barbara? One answer is an active, ongoing, and productive collaboration between the community, a responsive and assertive City Council, and an alert and preemptive Police Department. The choice is ours.
-Christina Pizarro
Coalition Against Gun Violence, Blog Editor
Community Organizer
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