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# A city under the gun
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/a-city-under-the-gun/
- Published: 2006-07-17T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:00:54.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Pico, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

It had been reported last week that three shootings have occurred in the Pico neighborhood since July 4\. Police have since announced that there were four shootings, with the fourth taking place on July 7, just a few hours after one occurred at Virginia Avenue Park.

Here is a recap of the violence that has occurred in Pico this month: ■ July 4: At 2:02 p.m., in the 1900 block of 19th Street, officers responded to a call of shots fired. When they arrived at the location, they were unable to identify any victims. However, officers spoke to a witness who said two male Hispanics driving a metallic blue, two-door compact car fired several shots at a 25-year-old Santa Monica resident, who was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries to his right foot and right elbow. The shooting is not believed to be gang-related. ■ July 7: At 8:45 p.m., at Virginia Avenue Park, police said a young Hispanic male was shot in the upper torso and was transported to a local hospital by private vehicle with non life-threatening injuries. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 15 years old, standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, wearing a baggy white T-shirt and shorts. Police believe the incident was gang-related, although the victim is not believed to have any gang affiliation.

Later that evening, Santa Monica Police officers assigned to the Pico Neighborhood Taskforce, “Operation Safe Streets,” arrested Timothy Mansion, 25, of Santa Monica for being an ex-felon with a gun. The incident stemmed from a radio call of shots fired in the 2000 block of 20th Street. Investigators conducted a follow-up investigation and at the conclusion of the investigation the case was presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s Office charged Mansion with being an ex-felon with a firearm with a gang enhancement. ■ July 9: At 3 p.m. in the rear alley of the 1900 block of Euclid Street, officers responded to a report of shots fired. A preliminary investigation found the victims were seated in a car when the suspects drove up next to their vehicle and fired several shots. No one was injured. The incident appears to be gang-related, police said. The first suspect has been described as a male Hispanic, 14 to 16 years old, standing 5 foot, 6 inches tall with a heavy build and dark hair. He was wearing a black hat with a white T-shirt, police said. The other suspect is said to be a Hispanic male, 14 to 16 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a thin build and dark hair. He also was wearing a black hat with a white T-shirt. The two were riding in what was described as a late 1980s to early 1990s gray Honda Accord, 2 door, with a black bumper. ■ Another shooting occurred after midnight on July 3 in the 1500 block of the beach involving a 21-year-old Hispanic male from Los Angeles, who was transported to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition, police said. The suspects in that shooting were Hispanic males in their 20s.

Also, SMPD officers arrested five teenagers last Wednesday in a separate incident, but gang-related.

A lone black man was assaulted at Tommy’s Original World Famous Burgers, and chased on Lincoln Boulevard by a group of Hispanic males, one of which pointed a handgun at him.

Benjamin Andres Moreno, 18, of Bellflower, has been charged by the DA’s Office with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with gang enhancement allegations. Four minors, some of whom live in Santa Monica, have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and felony threats with gang enhancement allegations.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 17, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)