Man who allegedly fired a gun in an SLO apartment complex arrested again

23 August 2024

Photo by Jeff Specht

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Less than two months after a man allegedly fired a gun at the Madonna Road Apartments in San Luis Obispo, he was reportedly spotted in the area again with a firearm. The suspect evaded capture Thursday night but was tracked down by police and arrested again Friday morning.

On July 1, police arrested 30-year-old Luis Martin Barron after a lengthy standoff. Barron had previously allegedly fired shots at the Madonna Road Apartments in the 1500 block of Madonna Road and threatened residents there.

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, a witness reported a man with a gun walking around the Madonna Road Apartments. According to San Luis Obispo police, officers converged on the area searching for Barron, a former resident of the apartment complex.

Out of an abundance of caution, authorities issued a 911 alert and urged residents in the area to seek safety. Officials conducted an extensive search but were unable to locate Barron.

Authorities set up a shelter and police continued to patrol the area.

At 9:30 a.m. Friday, patrol officers spotted Barron near the intersection of Madonna and Los Osos Valley Road and arrested him. Police did not find a weapon in Barron's possession.

Officers took Barron to the SLO County Detention Center where he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of concentrated cannabis.