SANTA MONICA—On Thursday, July 23, the Santa Monica Police Department announced that a 16-year-old male was arrested in connection to a fatal shooting that transpired on Monday, July 20 in Parking Lot 1 North.
The SMPD reported at approximately 12:32 a.m., officers responded to a report of a possible shooting in Parking Lot 1 North, located at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates that a physical altercation transpired between two groups prior to the shooting. During the investigation, SMPD detectives identified the juvenile male from Las Vegas as the suspect.
On the evening of July 21, the juvenile surrendered to Santa Monica Police Department detectives and was taken into custody in connection with the homicide investigation. Due to the suspect’s age, no additional identifying information will be released.
“Violence of any kind has no place in our community,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob. “While nothing can replace the life that was lost, the swift and focused work of our detectives resulted in the suspect being safely taken into custody. This is an important step, but our work is not finished. Our beachfront is one of Santa Monica’s most heavily visited public spaces, and we remain committed to keeping it safe for residents, visitors, businesses, and everyone who comes to enjoy our community.”
The SMPD is still investigating the case, and a motive for the shooting has not been released to the public. The name of the victim has not been released to the public.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has details related to this investigation is asked to contact the SMPD at 310-458-8491.
By Danny Jones