The Santa Barbara woman found dead inside an apartment following reports of a disturbance Tuesday afternoon in the first block of South Soledad Street has been identified and a suspect charged with her murder, the Santa Barbara Police Department announced Thursday.
Around 4:46 p.m. on June 4, police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a disturbance between a man and a woman. Several callers reported a “chaotic situation” and officers responded and found Lilia Munoz, 29.
When officers arrived and entered an interior courtyard, a male subject, now identified as Omar Alberto Leon, 28, surrendered to arrest and was taken into custody, police said. He has now been charged with Ms. Munoz’s alleged murder.
He and Ms. Munoz shared the residence. Mr. Leon was a News-Press contractor.
Multiple patrol officers and detectives secured the scene to preserve evidence and commenced to questioning the many bystanders at the scene. Mr. Leon was then taken into custody and transported by officers to the police station for questioning, where he booked for murder in Santa Barbara County Jail during the early morning hours of June 5, according to the news release.
Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Wagner told the News-Press that it did not appear the incident was related to the homicide that occurred Saturday night just a few blocks away in the 1300 block of Cacique Street.
