Santa Monica, CA — A man suspected of shooting a Santa Monica police officer near Santa Monica Place mall on Wednesday afternoon (June 26) has been arrested, authorities confirmed. The same suspect is also being investigated in connection with the Sunday night shooting of two juveniles riding in a self-driving Waymo vehicle.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. near the parking structure off 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, adjacent to the bustling Third Street Promenade. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the officer was responding to reports of a suspicious individual when gunfire broke out.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the officer was struck directly by a bullet or injured during the confrontation, but they stated the officer was transported to a nearby hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The shooting sparked a citywide manhunt and caused panic among shoppers and residents in the busy commercial area. Authorities quickly secured the scene and launched an investigation to determine the suspect’s motive and connection to both shootings.
No other injuries have been reported in the Wednesday incident. The investigation into both the Waymo shooting and the Santa Monica officer-involved shooting remains active.
More information will be released as the case develops.
