By Lookout Staff

August 29, 2023 -- A homeless man found dead by police in Palisades Park early Monday morning had turned a gun on himself after firing shots in the air, according to police.

Dispatch received a call at 10:48 p.m. reporting a single shot fired from a handgun on the 1700 block of Ocean Avenue, police said. The caller described the shooter as a Black man weighing around 180 pounds.

He was wearing a gray hoodie, white shirt, black pants and had a black backpack, said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

Officers recovered a spent casing at the location, Aklufi said.

"The suspect was not involved in any disturbance prior to shooting the round and left southbound prior to officers’ arrival," she said.

At 1:12 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a call reporting more shots fired near the 1500 block of Palisades Park, according to police.

The caller reported that she “saw a male shooting and then shot himself in the face,” Aklufi said.

Officers found the victim at the bottom of the Broadway stairs near PCH, she said.

"He was not breathing and with a gunshot wound," Aklufi said. "The victim matched the clothing and physical description of the shooter from the earlier call on Ocean Avenue."

A preliminary investigation indicates the two incidents are possibly related, Aklufi said.

The victim, who listed an address in Los Angeles, was experiencing homelessness, Aklufi said.

Anyone with information related to this incident call Detective Chabot at 310-458-6679, email Detective Sergeant Gradle at ryan.gradle@santamonica.gov or call the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.