By Lookout Staff

February 12, 2026 -- Police officers found two victims of an apparent murder suicide in an oceanfront residential complex in Santa Monica early Saturday morning.

The man and woman -- both 54 years old -- were found in an "advanced state of decomposition" by officers responding to the residence in the 1900 block of Ocean Avenue after a family member made a wellness call.

The caller had been "unable to contact the occupants for several days," said Police Department spokesperson Lt. Lewis Gilmour.

"Officers made entry into the unit with the assistance of building management after receiving no response and discovered two deceased individuals," Gilmour said.

The man and woman were found with apparent gunshot wounds, according to police. A firearm was located inside the residence.

"Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division are treating this incident as a suspected murder-suicide," Gilmour said.

Investigators have determined the two knew each other, and there are no outstanding suspects in what appears to be an isolated incident.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending official identification and notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The incident marks the second homicide of the year. The first took place in January and involved a mother who killed her 17-month-old daughter and was charged with murder ("Mother Charged with Her Baby's Murder," January 9, 2026).

The victim was found by police officers responding to an apartment on the 2200 block of Broadway on January 9, after the mother informed authorities she had harmed the child and left her inside the unit.

Anyone with information related Saturday's shooting incident should email SMPD Detective Esteban Hernandez at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.