On February 4, 2023, at approximately 11:50 PM, the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) responded to multiple reports of gunfire in the 400 block of North Railroad Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered two adult male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both individuals were promptly transported to a local hospital, where one of the victims, 40-year-old Robert Valencia, succumbed to his injuries. The other victim survived, though details regarding his condition were not disclosed.
Robert Valencia, born on September 17, 1982, in Othello, Washington, was raised in Santa Maria, California. He is remembered by his family, including his mother, Rosie Lara, stepfather Alfredo, his two children, Arianna and Robert Jr., and his siblings, Richard, Raymond, and Sonya. Funeral services were held in his honor on February 24, 2023, at Moreno Mortuary, followed by burial at Santa Maria Cemetery.
Following an extensive investigation, SMPD detectives identified 27-year-old Santa Maria resident Kevin Medrano as a suspect in the shooting. On October 4, 2023, at around 6:00 AM, the SMPD Detective Bureau, with assistance from the SMPD SWAT Team, executed search and arrest warrants at Medrano's residence in the 100 block of W. Camino Colegio. Medrano was arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of murder, with bail set at $2 million.
The arrest marked a significant development in the case, bringing some measure of closure to Valencia's family and the community. The SMPD continues to encourage anyone with additional information related to this investigation to contact Detective Brian Santiago at (805) 928-3781 ext. 1362.
