After attempting to rob a Goleta Rite Aid on Monday night, 29-year-old Santa Barbara resident Derrick Kirby fired multiple gunshots in a field north of Aero Camino and then took his own life.

At approximately 10 p.m. Monday, Kirby reportedly passed a note to a clerk at the Rite Aid located on Fairview Avenue stating that he had a gun and demanding prescription drugs. After his request was declined, Kirby fled the store. The clerk followed him out of the store and recorded his license plate number, which helped lead to his identification, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Dept. Lt. Jim Dollar said.

About an hour later, Sheriff’s Dept. deputies responded to reports of numerous gunshots in the area of Aero Camino, which is off Hollister Avenue and between Los Carneros Road and Fairview. Upon arrival, deputies heard additional shots being fired.

The Sheriff’s SWAT team, helicopter and K-9 deputies were requested to respond to the area. The helicopter located a person in a field north of Aero Camino. At approximately 3 a.m. the deputies heard a single gunshot. The SWAT team located a deceased male, who was positively identified as Kirby.

“No one’s sure why he did it. In the robbery he attempted to get prescription drugs but wasn’t able to get any,” Dollar said.

Portions of Highway 101 were closed from 11 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday because the rounds were fired in close proximity to the highway near Los Carneros, Dollar said.

“There were multiple shots fired. When I say multiple, I mean around 20 to 30 shots. Sheriff’s detectives are collecting shells to determine exactly how many shots were fired. We’re not sure whether they were up in the air, or at the freeway,” Dollar said.

Rite Aid employees are unable to comment during the ongoing investigation.

-Rebecca Turek