By Jorge Casuso
November 19, 2018 -- A woman sustained a superficial wound when she was struck by a bullet Friday night at the parking lot of Eddies Liquor on Pico Boulevard, according to Santa Monica police.
The incident in front of the corner store, which was the site of a high-profile gang slaying two decades ago, took place at around 7:22 and stemmed from an argument, according to police.
A man and women in a car got into an argument with a bicyclist in the parking lot at the corner of 20th Street and Pico Boulevard, said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman.
"The bicyclist pulled out a gun and shot the car," Rodriguez said.
One of the bullets likely penetrated the steel frame and seat cushion before striking the woman, who sustained a superficial wound, Rodriguez said.
The victim was located by police at a local hospital where she was being treated.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s with dark hair, unshaven and wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident.
"I think (the incident) was isolated," Rodriguez said. "It was not gang-related at all."
Eddie's Liquor has been the site of several gang-related shootings over the years.
In 1995, Luis Cueva, an alleged gang member, was fatally shot outside the corner store in what police said was a clash between the victim and a rival gang.
Three years later, Eddie’s Liquor was the scene of a high-profile homicide that was part of a shooting spree that gripped the beachside city.
In that incident, several Latino men chased Juan Campos into the store and cornered him, police said. Campos was shot multiple times.
The liquor store continued to be a problem spot with violent incidents reported over the years. In 2007, two men were shot outside the store.
"I would argue it was one of the most dangerous places in the City," said School Board member Oscar de la Torre, who runs the Pico Youth and Family Center (PYFC).
Rodriguez said there have been no series incidents at Eddie's Liquor for some time.
"It's been a while," he said.
