A man shot in the chest after allegedly breaking into a Santa Maria apartment belonging to his estranged girlfriend and her family remained hospitalized Monday in stable condition.
Police said Jose Everett Fisher, 32, of Santa Maria forced his way into the apartment of his ex-girlfriend's family early Sunday morning and was shot by a resident there, likely in self-defense.
The suspect allegedly used a baseball bat to both threaten the family and to damage items in their home in the Meridian Apartments, in the 500 block of West Sonya Lane, according to Lt. Larry Ralston of the Santa Maria Police Department.
The family hid in a bedroom to avoid the suspect, but when Fisher kicked in the door to approach them, an unidentified relative shot the suspect in the chest with a .22-caliber rifle, Ralston said.
Police were summoned about 1 a.m. Sunday, and Fisher was transported to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria for treatment of the serious gunshot injury, according to Ralston. He was later flown to Stanford University Medical Center, where he was in stable condition, police said.
When he recovers, police said, the suspect will be booked on suspicion of residential burglary.
Police have not released the names of the shooter or the other family members, who were not injured, because of their continuing investigation.
* Staff writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at 739-2217 or by e-mail at
qcushner@pulitzer.net.
June 8, 2004
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