Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Samohi Student Wounded in Shooting

The 16-year-old student underwent surgery Tuesday after being shot in the chest in front of 521 Pacific Street.

A Santa Monica High School student was in stable condition Tuesday night after being shot at, possibly multiple times, near Pico Boulevard and 4th Street.

The 16-year-old was wounded in the chest, police said.  

"He is out of surgery and is in stable condition," said Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis.

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Investigators continue looking for two Hispanic men in their 20s who ran to their car—parked on Pacific Street—then drove southbound on either 4th or 5th streets, according to Lewis. It was not clear whether both suspects fired on the victim.

Lewis said witnesses described the suspects’ vehicle as a dark-colored SUV, maybe black, possibly a Honda or a Kia Sorrento. The vehicle has either a bike rack or ski rack on the roof and a bumper sticker above the rear license plate.

The shooting was reported at 3:25 p.m. in front of 521 Pacific Street, Lewis said, about 20 minutes after classes had been dismissed at Santa Monica and Olympic high schools. The shooting site is between the two schools, just a few blocks away from each one.

Police remained on the scene for nearly three hours after the shooting. More than a dozen numbered plastic markers indicated where evidence was found, and officers worked into the night under a bright light recording in detail what had been found.

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A sergeant on the scene declined to say whether any shell casings or spent bullets were recovered.

"It's too early to tell" if the shooting was gang related, Lewis said. 

A Samohi sophomore, Zaq Moul, asked the City Council for a moment of silence Tuesday night for the victim, whom he described as a good kid.

Moul said they've known each other since elementary school. Now in high school, their lockers are near each other. This morning, they chatted about girls.

"He smiled and walked away," Moul said, who then got the news about the shooting while out to eat with his family at Ameci's Pizza and Pasta.

 

More information will be posted as it becomes available.


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