Two More Shot in Santa Monica

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

October 6 -- A drive-by shooting near 16th Street and Broadway sent two teenagers to the hospital Tuesday evening, victims of the fifth shooting in Santa Monica in a month and a half.

The incident -- which comes less than three days after a Los Angeles man was fatally shot next to the pier -- took place at 8:55 p.m., when a vehicle with two Hispanic men approached the two male victims in a back alley, police said.

One of the victims, "was taking out the trash when shots were fired from the suspects' vehicle," said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the police department spokesman.

The victims -- identified as a black 16-year-old Santa Monica resident and a 19-year-old Hispanic man who is an admitted member of a Los Angeles gang -- were transported to a local hospital.

The 19-year-old, who has refused to cooperate with police, was shot twice in the lower torso, while the 16-year-old was shot once in the stomach, police said. They were listed in stable condition.

Both of the victims had criminal records. The 16-year-old is wanted for robbery, while the older victim -- identified by police in South Central as a gang member -- is wanted on a felony warrant.

The suspects, identified as two male Hispanics, were in "a possible white or silver late 1980s sedan similar to a Pontiac Grand Am," Fabrega said.

Police say there is no indication the shooting was gang related. "It's hard to say," Fabrega said. "There was no exchange of words."

Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. said the recent shootings do not indicate that a war is raging between gangs in Santa Monica and those outside the City.

"I have no evidence to support that idea," Butts said.

The police department does not plan to fundamentally change how it is combating the gang problem, but is considering a "redeployment," Butts said.

Oscar de la Torre, executive director of the Pico Youth and Family Center, said the recent shootings appear to be part of a pattern.

"There's been an ongoing feud, and the violence extends beyond the city limits," said de la Torre, who is a member of the School Board. "It's an internal youth going on with youth in Los Angeles County.

"Santa Monica is not immune to what's happening in Los Angeles," de la Torre said.

Tuesday's incident comes three days after an alleged Los Angeles gang member was gunned down next to the pier. (see story)

On September 27 a Santa Monica man was fatally shot in Los Angeles the day after a man was injured by a gunshot in Santa Monica. Police do not believe the incidents were related. (see story)

In late August two individuals were shot during an assault in the Pico neighborhood. (see story)

The shooting took place one week after two youths received non-threatening gun shot wounds on August 22. (see story)

Anyone with additional information should contact the Robbery/Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at 310 458-8451 or the Watch Commander’s Office at 310-458-8426.