Police arrest three in gang fight

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Authorities arrested three teenagers after a gang fight on State Street last Saturday left a 16-year-old with stab wounds to his leg, police said.
An employee of Circuit City at 3761 State Street walked to a nearby fast-food restaurant with two friends at about 2:35 p.m., where they were confronted by at least three suspects armed with knives, Santa Barbara Police Spokesman Paul McCaffrey said.

As they returned to Circuit City, a fight broke out and one teen sustained a minor stab wound to his right hip near the entrance to the store, McCaffrey said. Police arrested three minors, including the 16-year-old stabbing victim, as well as another 16-year-old and a 14-year-old, booking them for probation violations and challenging to fight.
“They got caught up in this because of their gang involvement,” McCaffrey said. “It’s a cycle of violence ... and the police department has taken a very firm position against that.”
Saturday’s gang stabbing comes in the wake of another gang-related brawl in Santa Barbara’s Westside on July 16 that left 16-year-old Lorenzo Valentin Carachure dead. McCaffrey said some progress has been made in that case, but declined to release any details due to the ongoing investigation.