By Daily Press staff
PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — When a worker installing cable in this neighborhood stumbled upon a firearm in the bushes Tuesday, he called police. But before authorities could get there, three men showed up, grabbed the gun and drove off.
At about 10:30 a.m., police were called to the 1800 block of 17th Street, where the worker found the firearm. Within a matter of minutes, the worker said he saw three black men drive to the area, pick up the gun and leave. He only described one man in the vehicle. That man was wearing a green jersey with white stripes and gray baggy pants.
Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Frank Fabrega said it’s unknown whether the firearm was loaded, or if in fact it was a real firearm. It could have been a replica.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 18, 2004. Read the original PDF.