Full Notification

SANTA BARBARA, CA – March 1, 2015

Enson Junior Lopez, age 32, was arrested for the murder of Ian Justin O’Brien Nichols, age 40. The incident occurred during the night / morning hours of February 26 / 27, 2015. Both men were homeless, residing in Santa Barbara.

On February 27, 2015 at 6:53 a.m. police officers, firefighters, and paramedics responded to a call of a medical emergency on the 100 block of N. Quarantina Street. The incident was first noticed by a passerby who notified an employee of a nearby business who in turn called 9-1-1. Upon arrival emergency personnel found Nichols, dead, on the ground in an alcove adjacent to the west sidewalk.

Investigation revealed that Lopez and Nichols had quarreled multiple times during the day prior to the incident. During the night / early morning Lopez contacted Nichols on the 100 block of N. Quarantina Street and killed him. On February 27, 2015 at 1:20 p.m. Lopez was located on the 800 block of Cacique Street and arrested for murder. He was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail amount of $1,000,000.00.

Detectives are still seeking additional witnesses in this case. Anyone who observed the interactions of the suspect and victim during the hours prior to the crime is asked to contact SBPD Detective Andy Hill at (805) 897-2414 / [email protected]. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation additional details, such as the cause and manner of death, are being withheld.

Pictured: Lopez, wearing orange; Nichols, wearing blue. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA – February 27, 2015

Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department, assisted by crime scene investigators from the California Department of Justice, are currently conducting a homicide investigation on the 100 block of N. Quarantina Street.

On February 27, 2015 at 6:53 a.m. police officers, firefighters, and paramedics responded to a call of a medical emergency on the 100 block of N. Quarantina Street. The incident was first noticed by a passerby who notified an employee of a nearby business who in turn called 9-1-1. Upon arrival emergency personnel found a deceased white male, approximately 30 years of age, on the ground in an alcove adjacent to the west sidewalk. Cause of death has not yet been determined; however the manner appears to have been violent and not self-inflicted.

No arrests have been made and at this time there is no suspect information. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation additional details are being withheld. Anyone with information is asked to contact SBPD Detective Andy Hill at (805) 897-2414 / [email protected], or call anonymously to (805) 897-2386.