SANTA MONICA—Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News via email that they are currently investigating a death that occurred at Palisades Park on Monday, August 28.
The SMPD noted that at about 10:48 p.m., dispatch received a call that a subject described as a male, black, about 180 lbs, wearing a grey hoodie, white shirt, black pants and with a black backpack fired once into the air with a handgun in the 1700 block of Ocean Ave on the west sidewalk.
A spent casing was recovered at the location. The suspect was not involved in any disturbance prior to shooting the round and left southbound prior to officers’ arrival.
The victim has been described as a male in his 40s, possibly homeless, but with an associated address in Los Angeles.
On August 28 at 1:12 a.m., officers responded to a call of additional shots
fired near the 1500 block of Palisades Park.
The RP reported that she “saw a male shooting and then shot himself in the face.” Officers located a victim down at the bottom of the Broadway stairs near PCH who was not breathing and with a gunshot wound.
The victim matched the clothing and the physical description of the shooter from the earlier call on Ocean Avenue. Preliminary investigation indicates the two incidents are possibly related.
The Los Angeles County Coroner responded to the scene and are assisting the Police Department with various aspects of the investigation, including identifying the victim and the cause of death.
“Once we have more information we will issue a release,” Lt. Aklufi informed Canyon News.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact Detective Chabot at 310-458-6679, Detective Sergeant Gradle at ryan.gradle@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.
