The man killed in a shark attack off Ocean Beach near Vandenberg Air Force Base has been identified. 39 year old Francisco Javier Solorio, Jr. of Orcutt had been surfing with three other friends just before 11:00 am on Tuesday when he was bitten in the upper torso area. A friend saw the attack and got Solorio out of the water and began first aid procedures which were continued by members of the Vandenberg Air Force Base Fire Department, who were first to respond, however, Solorio died at the scene. As for whether it was a great white shark involved in Tuesday's attack, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Mark Williams tells the Information Station that has not been confirmed.
Tuesday's shark attack happened in the same area as where 19 year old Santa Barbara City College student Lucas Ransom died after being attacked by what was believed to be a great white shark on October 22nd of 2010. Surf and Ocean Beaches were closed after Tuesday's attack.