Santa Maria, California — On Sunday, October 30, 2022, at approximately 10:21 p.m., an SMPD officer contacted a suspect, identified as 36-year-old Salvador Maceda, during an investigation in the 1000 block of W. Morrison Ave. During the encounter, Maceda is seen outside the apartment complex holding a couple of knives. He is told to drop the knives but refuses, takes several steps toward the officers, and an officer fires a less-than-lethal projectile, hitting Maceda in the abdomen. Maceda is seen throwing a knife at a police car and then running away, followed by several officers.
Maceda fled running to a nearby apartment complex where he tried to hide on the balcony of an apartment unit reportedly occupied by a woman and her young child. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and brought in FBI trained crisis negotiators, but still, he refused to disarm or surrender. While armed, Maceda attempted to forcibly break into the apartment. That’s when Officer Erik Hesch shot Maceda, killing him.
Maceda was reportedly on probation for a previous standoff with officers in December 2021 and there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest for violating his probation. Officer Hesch is back on duty after initially being placed on administrative leave after the shooting.
