On Wednesday night, an altercation on Santa Maria Drive in Fairfield escalated to gunshots, leading to the arrest of 31-year-old Justin Banuelos. A social media post from the Fairfield Police Department detailed that officers were called to the 300 block around 8:41 pm after reports of a shooting incident. The police contacted a victim who claimed he was shot at following a heated argument with the homeowner's son.
An eyewitness separate from the incident corroborated the story of the argument and added seeing Banuelos, a Fairfield resident, brandishing a handgun. After officers determined Banuelos was inside the home, they commanded him to come out. It took about an hour before Banuelos complied with law enforcement's orders and was subsequently detained by the authorities. At the scene, officers also discovered a spent shell casing and an unfired bullet near the residence. According to the Fairfield PD's report, the findings contributed to piecing together the night's events.
Further investigation was conducted with detectives obtaining a warrant to search the home. This search turned up a bag concealed within the attic space. Inside that bag, police uncovered both a firearm and identification belonging to Banuelos. These discoveries have led to serious charges against Banuelos. The Fairfield Police Department has confirmed that Banuelos is now facing charges for making criminal threats, negligent discharge of a firearm, and violation of probation. He was booked into the County Jail following the altercation and the subsequent discovery of the firearm.
