Authorities have arrested three people in connection with the murder of UCSB alum Robert Burke Simpson.

Simpson, 44, was stabbed to death last Thursday at Hendry’s Beach after what police say appeared to be a fight. Simpson, a former Daily Nexus photographer, graduated from UCSB in 1993.

Authorities arrested 21-year-old Rudy Gallegos on Sunday, charging him with homicide after searching his Santa Barbara home. Gallegos is currently being held without bail in the county jail.

Santa Barbara County Sheriffs also arrested two young women in connection with the crime, including a local juvenile.

Police detained 19-year-old Santa Barbara resident Brittany Danielle Weiler on Friday for acting as an accessory to murder. Weiler is currently being held in Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail posted at $1 million.

Detectives also charged a 17-year-old female on Saturday with accessory to murder. She has been sent to Juvenile Hall with a bail set at $1 million. A judge granted a search warrant for her Santa Barbara home Sunday.

Roughly 200 to 300 people were at the beach when the murder took place around 6:30 p.m., and authorities believe more suspects were involved. Santa Barbara County Sherriff’s Dept. public information officer Drew Sugars said the investigation is ongoing.

“You can be charged for accessory to murder if you helped someone commit the actual crime itself, or if you helped out after the fact by helping the murderer hide,” Sugars said.

Former Nexus photographer Gerry Melendez said Simpson was a pleasure to work with.

“I remember him as the most easygoing person you could ever meet,” Melendez said. “He was one of those guys that would do anything to help out. What a horrible loss.”

Brooke Nelson, a Nexus editor who dated Simpson during their time at school, said she was shocked to learn of Simpson’s death.

“Rob was a very laid-back, compassionate person, who loved surfing and music and avoided confrontation,” Nelson said. “He was the last person I would expect something like this to happen to.”