Ventura man arrested in connection with Santa Barbara double homicide that killed two teens

A 30-year-old Ventura man has been arrested in connection with a January double homicide that killed two teenagers in Santa Barbara, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The homicides occurred during a shooting on Jan. 3, in the city's Eastside neighborhood near the intersection of Liberty and South Soledad streets.

The shooting killed Angel Castillo, 17, and Omar Montiel-Hernandez, 18, both of Santa Barbara. Two more people were injured during the shooting and had to be transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Through an investigation, Santa Barbara police detectives identified Edgardo Romero, 30, of Ventura, as one of five suspects involved with the shooting. On April 12, authorities detained Romero while serving a search warrant in the 600 block of Empire Avenue in Ventura.

Romero was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to a murder, illegal possession of an assault rifle and illegal assault rifle activity, all felonies, as well as illegal manufacturing of a firearm, a misdemeanor. He was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail and is being held without bail, according to Santa Barbara police.

In addition to Romero, four men from Carpinteria were arrested in connection with the double homicide: Angel Varela, 26; Oscar Trujillo-Gutierrez, 25; Emilio Perez, 18; and Fernando Gutierrez, 35. Gutierrez was arrested April 8, in the 1100 block of Mark Avenue in Carpinteria, while the other three suspects were arrested April 7.

Varela, Trujillo-Gutierrez and Perez were all arrested on suspicion of murder, while Gutierrez was arrested on suspicion of various felony firearm violations. All four have been booked into Santa Barbara County jail and remain in custody awaiting trial.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.