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Police officers killed a man who fired on them after he allegedly shot his wife in a parking lot near a busy intersection in Downtown Santa Monica Friday night.
At approximately 6:15 p.m. a female Verizon Wireless employee was shot by her husband after work while she was headed to her car in the parking lot on Seventh Street, across from the Santa Monica Main Library branch located on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Witnesses on the scene said that a man, who the police attributed to be her husband, fired upon her. “It appears to have been a domestic situation,” said Capt. Wendell Shirley of the Santa Monica Police Department.
Based on the crime scene where multiple shell casings can be seen and witness reports, as few as six and as many as 12 shots were fired at the woman. Unsubstantiated witness reports indicate that the shooter hit her in the left temple of her head and possibly in the leg. Capt. Shirley said that the victim was shot “multiple” times. She was rushed off to a local hospital and is in critical condition. A police source indicated that she is undergoing emergency surgery.
After shooting his wife, the man fled on foot in a southern direction after shooting his wife, before heading west toward the final crime scene at 1400 of Ninth Street, between Broadway Street and Santa Monica Boulevard where SMPD officers confronted him.
Capt. Shirley said that officers ordered the shooter to drop to the ground, but the suspect did not comply. Instead he produced a handgun and fired at the officers. “In fear for their safety, they returned fire,” Capt. Shirley said. “The suspect was hit and went down and was pronounced dead at the scene.” Bullet casings and shattered window glass litter the streets on either side of SMPD cruiser where the final showdown occurred. In front of the cruiser lay what looked like a body under a tarp.
Floyd English, a witness at the first scene, said he saw the first shots fired at the woman in the parking lot. He said both the shooter and the victim – the husband and wife – were Latino. English said the husband was at least six feet tall, of a heavy build, with dark hair and a beard, a black blazer, and dress slacks.
Police have not released the names of either the victim or the shooter yet. No officers or bystanders were injured.
This incident is the second shooting in Santa Monica this week; unusual for this normally peaceful beach town abutting Los Angeles. Earlier this week, three high school students were fired upon after a throwing small pumpkins at a vehicle – one was shot in the upper leg/hip area, but was released from the hospital that evening. The shooter in that crime has not yet been identified and the incident is suspected to be gang-related. A few days later, a local high school girl was stabbed in the cheek during one of two robberies perpetrated by suspects that were later apprehended. The suspects were also gang affiliated.
Anyone with information regarding this most recent shooting is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at 310. 458.8495. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call WeTip at 1.800.78.CRIME 1.800. 782.7463, or submit the tip online at www.wetip.com.
Callers can also contact Crime Stoppers by either calling 800.222.TIPS, texting from your mobile, or by visiting their website at lacrimestoppers.org.
