A 16-year-old Las Vegas boy has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting near the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California, police said.
The Santa Monica Police Department said in a Facebook post that officers responded at about 12:32 a.m. July 20 to a report of a possible shooting in Parking Lot 1 North at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. The incident occurred near the Santa Monica Pier, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Arriving officers found an adult man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The preliminary investigation indicates a physical altercation occurred between two groups before the shooting. Detectives later identified a 16-year-old from Las Vegas as the suspect.
The juvenile surrendered to Santa Monica Police Department detectives on July 21 and was taken into custody in connection with the homicide investigation, police said.
Due to the suspect’s age, no additional identifying information will be released, the department noted.
“Violence of any kind has no place in our community,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob. “While nothing can replace the life that was lost, the swift and focused work of our detectives resulted in the suspect being safely taken into custody. This is an important step, but our work is not finished. Our beachfront is one of Santa Monica’s most heavily visited public spaces, and we remain committed to keeping it safe for residents, visitors, businesses, and everyone who comes to enjoy our community.”
