> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Untitled
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/063005-story-20050630-2/
- Published: 2005-06-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:21:27.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Venice, #archive-import

received further information en route to the scene that indicated one suspect, armed with a handgun, had exited the bank and was being driven away by a second suspect in a black sport utility vehicle, according to SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla.

Lt. Padilla said several police units intercepted the fleeing SUV on Lincoln Boulevard and proceeded to chase it south through Venice into Marina del Rey.

The SUV entered a parking garage at the Villa Marina Marketplace on the 13400 block of Maxella Avenue. The vehicle stopped near a stairwell and arriving squad cars stopped behind it.

According to Lt. Padilla, responding officers noticed the two men reaching for their waistbands as they exited the SUV, at which point the officers began to shoot at the suspects.

“We’re still figuring out how many rounds were fired and by whom,” said Lt. Padilla. “But there was more than one (officer who fired).”

The officers involved in the shooting, as per standard procedure, will be assigned to desk duty for a couple of days.

A man who calls himself “R.J.,” who works at a coffee shop at the top of the stairwell, said he stepped outside as he heard approaching sirens. The witness said he walked downstairs in time to see two men flee the vehicle and watched police officers begin to fire at them.

“They were coming toward me. I was scared, so I started running,” R.J. said. “I ran past the shops and told the people to lock their doors, because (the cops) were shooting.”

R.J. said he ran along the west wing of the second floor, avoiding the chase.

Lt. Padilla and Santa Monica police detectives held a press conference following the incident, showing reporters and cameramen the crime scene.

Lt. Padilla said one of the suspects was apprehended near the top of the stairwell, a spot littered with money and a blue denim jacket.

There was no blood, but Lt. Padilla said that was not uncommon.

“Sometimes when someone gets shot, there is only internal bleeding at first.” Lt. Padilla said.

A trail of blood spots from the second suspect started near the top of the stair-well and led several yards east to a small outdoor corridor between businesses.

Lying close to a pool of smeared blood were a cell phone, white sneakers and a yellow Polo shirt.

Officials from the FBI, which usually leads bank robbery investigations, said that they would leave the investigation to the SMPD.

“We look at it on a case by case basis,” said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokesperson, adding the SMPD is the lead agency in the investigation.

However, it appears the FBI is working the case as well.

“It’s under investigation whether or not these individuals have robbed before,” she said.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/063005-15_01.jpg)

Among the items found at the scene of Wednesday’s shootings were bloody clothes (left) and money believed to have been stolen from the First Federal Bank branch at 2827 Main St. (Photo: Ryan Hyatt/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/063005-15_02.jpg)

Among the items found at the scene of Wednesday’s shootings were bloody clothes (left) and money believed to have been stolen from the First Federal Bank branch at 2827 Main St. (Photo: Ryan Hyatt/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 30, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/063005.pdf?ref=smdp.com)