A homeless suspect who shot and seriously wounded a Santa Monica police officer during an afternoon ambush was arrested Wednesday evening after a resident tip led officers to his location, authorities said.
The suspect was taken into custody at 4:20 p.m. in Santa Monica following a brief foot pursuit, Police Chief Ramon Batista announced during a press conference. The weapon used in the assault was also recovered. No force was used during the arrest.
The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. when an officer recognized an individual from a prior incident and attempted to make contact near Santa Monica Place. After the officer identified himself as police, a brief foot pursuit began.
"The officer was ambushed, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the officer and left the area on foot," Batista said. "The officer was seriously injured, but is in stable condition and receiving medical care."
Fellow officers quickly rendered aid and transported the wounded officer to a local hospital. The officer sustained what police initially described as non-life-threatening injuries, though Batista characterized them as serious.
Batista said the officer is one of the younger additions to the force who was in field training at the time of the shooting. The Chief said he was in good spirits at the hospital.
The incident prompted a massive response from multiple law enforcement agencies and the evacuation of Santa Monica Place. Streets within two blocks of the mall were closed as officers conducted a coordinated search for the suspect who was eventually found near Ocean and Montana.
Police had described the suspect as a Black male in his 30s wearing a dark-colored jacket and black pants. Officials said the suspect was likely the same individual responsible for shooting two teens over the weekend. In that incident, the youth had an argument with a suspect and when the children called a Waymo autonomous taxi to leave the area, the suspect approached the vehicle and shot them both. Both victims were injured but survived.
Batista said the weapon was recovered with the suspect and the department believed he was homeless. He said it was too early to know why the suspect stayed in the area despite the active manhunt and that any possible charges would be determined at a later date.
The shooting marks the second time in eight months that a Santa Monica police officer has been seriously injured in the line of duty. Another officer was stabbed in a separate incident and continues to recover.
"These incidents are a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by those who serve our community and call for all of us to leave with civility, compassion and respect for one another," Batista said.
The police chief praised the response from multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Beverly Hills Police Department, El Segundo Police Department, UCLA Police Department, Hawthorne Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
"We didn't do this alone," Batista said. "I sincerely appreciate our community's continued support and cooperation during the past several tense hours."
Batista also commended his officers' response to the crisis.
"I want to credit the men and women of the Santa Monica Police Department. They show courage, calm and the highest levels of professionalism today, both during the relentless investigation and certainly during the arrest," he said. "I could not be more proud than today."
Negrete thanked residents who assisted in the investigation and expressed gratitude for the hospital staff treating the wounded officer.
"I also want to thank the residents who clearly participated, not only today, but continue to do so have in the past and support our local police department here," Negrete said.
Authorities said additional updates would be shared through the Santa Monica Police Department's official social media channels as the investigation continues.
The case remains under investigation.