Frankie Placido Hernandez, a 29-year-old resident of Santa Maria, California, tragically lost his life on May 28, 2021. Hernandez was found deceased with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle near the Broadway overpass and Highway 101 in Santa Maria. The investigation revealed that the actual shooting occurred near a business located in the 100 block of E. Grant Street. The Santa Maria Police Department quickly identified Erik Rocha Fernandez as a suspect in the case.
Fernandez was apprehended less than a day later while riding a bicycle on Donovan Road at N. Elm Street.
Erik Rocha Fernandez, 22 at the time, was charged with the murder of Frankie Placido Hernandez. Fernandez pled guilty to one felony count of first-degree murder and admitted to using a firearm that caused Hernandez's death. Additionally, Fernandez pled guilty to the attempted murder of another individual and conspiracy to commit witness intimidation by force or fear. The District Attorney's Office announced that Fernandez would receive a sentence of 10 years followed by 25 years to life in state prison.
The motive behind the shooting was initially unclear, but it was determined that the incident was not gang-related. The case was thoroughly investigated by the Santa Maria Police Department, with Detective Zack Robbins playing a significant role in uncovering the details. Senior Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore represented the District Attorney's Office in this matter. Fernandez's sentencing took place in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Santa Maria Division, on May 5, 2023.
