The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for a male suspect wanted in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at a Target retail store in Goleta, California. The incident took place on Monday, July 27, 2026, at approximately 9:52 a.m. on Hollister Avenue in Goleta. According to law enforcement reports, deputies responded to the scene following a report that a lone male suspect attempted to purchase two iPads using a stolen credit card. When the transaction was declined, the suspect forcibly took the merchandise while making statements indicating he was armed with a firearm. The suspect then fled the store before deputies arrived and was last seen running westbound through the shopping center parking lot. The suspect is described as a Black male in his early 20s. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with sparkles, a blue disposable face mask, blue sweatpants, and athletic shoes. The Sheriff’s Office has released a surveillance image of the individual, though they caution that colors in the image may not be accurate due to the method of capture. The suspect’s skin tone was reportedly darker than depicted, and his clothing was closer to a medium blue. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and not approach the suspect if seen. Instead, anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts or the incident is asked to call 911 immediately. The investigation is ongoing, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with additional information to contact them directly. The suspect remains at large as of the date of this report.