SANTA MONICA—Lt. Lewis Gilmour of the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News via email that they are actively managing an ongoing incident following a shooting near Santa Monica Place at 4th St & Colorado.
At approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, a SMPD officer identified an individual believed to be the suspect in the June 22 Waymo shooting at approximately 11:38 p.m.
near 2nd Street and Broadway.
Two juveniles were seated in an autonomous rideshare vehicle when the suspect approached on foot and opened fire before fleeing the area. The shooting followed a verbal altercation earlier that evening. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
SMPD detectives immediately launched a comprehensive investigation, reviewing surveillance footage and collecting witness statements. A departmental bulletin was distributed on June 23 to assist officers in identifying and locating the suspect.
When the officer attempted to detain the suspect on June 25, the suspect fled on foot. Following a foot pursuit spanning two blocks, the suspect ambushed the officer and fired multiple rounds, striking him before fleeing the area.
The officer sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries and remains in stable condition. Responding officers provided immediate aid and he was transported to a local hospital.
Santa Monica Place has been cleared and orders to shelter in place have been lifted throughout the Downtown area. The suspect was described as a Black male in his 30s. He was seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and black pants.
At approximately 4:20 p.m., the suspect was taken into custody near Palisades Park. A timely tip from a resident led officers to the suspect, who was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. The firearm used in the assault was recovered by authorities.
The suspect has been identified as David John Hairston II, 31, who is believed to be homeless. He is currently being held at the Santa Monica Jail. Bail is set at $1,000,000, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Friday, June 27.
The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for
filing consideration. Anticipated charges include, but are not limited to:
-Attempted murder of a peace officer
-Assault with a deadly weapon
-(2) Counts of attempted murder (related to the June 22 incident)
-Firearms violations
“We sincerely thank our law enforcement partners for their crucial support, including the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Beverly Hills Police Department, El Segundo Police Department, Hawthorne Police Department, Torrance Police Department, Los Angeles District Attorney Police, Gardena Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Culver City PD and UCLA PD,” said Lt. Gilmour in a statement.
He added, “This marks the second time in eight months that a Santa Monica officer has been seriously injured in the line of duty—first by stabbing, now by gunfire. The officer injured in the earlier stabbing continues to recover. These incidents underscore the risks faced by officers in the line of duty and the continued need for collective commitment to public safety and community partnership.”
Anyone with details about the incident should contact Det. Reyes (Isaac.Reyes@santamonica.gov), Det. Kayondo (Lawrence.Kayondo@santamonica.gov), Detective Sergeant Lozano (Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov) at (310) 458-8774, or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
