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Gillespie St. Shooting
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Attempted Murder Could be Linked to Yard Sale

Suspect was at the scene prior to gunshots

Written by KEYT Reporter

Story Created: Dec 30, 2011 at 6:38 PM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 31, 2011 at 10:43 PM PDT

A suspect in a Santa Barbara attempted murder case may have been in contact with has victim at a yard sale prior to the attack. The victim, Juan Ortiz was shot in the head at point blank range during a home invasion, but survived. Police have been able to put together some of the details that brought the main suspect, his wife and another man to the scene on Gillespie Street, in March of 2010.

They eventually caught Jack Mills, and his wife Rebecca at a house in Pahrump, Nevada about two weeks after the shooting.

The motive is not clear, but court documents show the suspect may have first tried to rent a room at the Gillespie Street address, even though no room was advertised. Mills also reportedly showed up at a yard sale at the victims home the day before the shooting. Police say Ortiz believed Mills was back at the address to commit a robbery.

It's alleged that Mills pulled a gun at the door on Maria Aguilar, threw her to the ground and then found himself confronted by Aguilar's nephew, Ortiz. That's when the shot was fired and Ortiz suffered a head wound, but survived.

Since the attack, many in the neighborhood have speculated about a possible motive. Now it appears the motive might be a robbery connected to the yard sale.

"Yea, that's bizarre. I had heard that it was over money, It seemed like a senseless act. We hadn't heard it was that silly, from a yard sale," said resident Marco Gonzales.

A resident across the street, Fred Silsbee said, "it's the first time I heard yard sale, so I heard it was pot money, heard that the guy who did live there had a business or a couple of businesses."

The trial is expected to begin next week.

KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has our story.
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