Community Corner

3 Arrested in Santa Monica Alley Shooting

Two gang members and an alleged accomplice were arrested today on suspicion of a shooting that killed one man and injured another in Santa Monica.

Christopher Chonan Osumi, 19, and Meliton Lorenzo Lopez, 23, both of Los Angeles were taken into custody on suspicion of murder and being a member of a criminal street gang, according to Sgt. Richard Lewis of the Santa Monica Police Department. Bail for both was set at $1.04 million.

A third man, Noah Jason Farris, 32, of Los Angeles, was collared on suspicion of being an accomplice to a felony and gang membership. 

The shooting was reported at 8:15 a.m. June 11 in the 1500 block of Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica, police said.

Two victims were found, and one died from his injuries. He was identified as Gil Verastegui, 29, of Santa Monica. The other remains in critical condition.

According to police:

During the course of the investigation, several investigative leads were developed, leading investigators to the 1500 Block of Armacost in West Los Angeles. A short time later, two suspects matching the description given by witnesses were taken into custody after attempting to flee on foot; a third suspect was taken into custody inside a nearby apartment. During the service of a subsequent search warrant, a handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered.

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