Man Arrested After Santa Cruz Shooting

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Santa Cruz police have arrested a 27-year-old man, Erik Lozoya, in connection with an alleged attempted homicide on Sunday. Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Branciforte and Goss avenues, where they found a person with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a trauma hospital, and their current condition is unknown. Police located Lozoya's vehicle on Highway 1 and arrested him on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Why it matters

Violent crimes like attempted homicide are concerning for the Santa Cruz community, which has seen an increase in gun violence and property crimes in recent years. This incident raises questions about public safety and the need for continued law enforcement efforts to address such incidents.

The details

According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found a person with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an out-of-county trauma hospital, though their current condition is unknown. Authorities identified a suspect vehicle that had left the scene and, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, located and stopped the vehicle on Highway 1. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Erik Lozoya, was then arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of attempted homicide. During the investigation, detectives executed search warrants and recovered multiple firearms.

• The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

What’s next

The case remains under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 831-420-5820.