SANTA MONICA—On Friday, January 24, 2025, Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News that a suspect involved in a fatal stabbing in the region has been convicted in court.

On November 2, 2022, officers responded to Lot 1 North, the beach parking lot just north of the Pier, for a suspicious circumstances call. A parking attendant noticed a male subject lying motionless in the driver seat and possibly bleeding. The victim had died of stab wounds inflicted by an unknown assailant.

Using evidence collected from the vehicle and other investigative tools, the murder suspect was identified as Dearborn, Michigan resident Mohamed Abou-Arabi, 25. The Los Angles County District Attorney’s Office filed a single count of murder with an enhancement for utilizing a knife to commit the fatal attack.

A warrant was issued for Abou-Arabi’s arrest. In January 2023, SMPD Detectives flew to Michigan and arrested Abou-Arabi. During a trial in September 2024, Abou-Arabi was found guilty of First-Degree Murder.

On January 13, 2025, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison, plus a one-year enhancement for using a knife.