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# Local businessman suspected in Pico murder
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/local-businessman-suspected-in-pico-murder/
- Published: 2002-07-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:26:06.000Z
- Author: Carolyn Sackariason
- Tags: Crime, Pico, #archive-import

*Homicide fourth this year*

A manager of an automotive repair shop on Pico Boulevard was arrested for murder in connection to the shooting death of a man that occurred outside of the business Monday night.

Michael Ward Bell, 53, of Los Angeles, was taken to the Santa Monica Jail, minutes after he allegedly shot an unidentified man on the 2600 block of Pico Boulevard, just feet away from BT Automotive Service, which is operated by Bell.

The victim’s name has not been released by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office and his body remained at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood awaiting a transport on Tuesday evening, coroner’s official said.

Santa Monica Police were called to the area at 8:24 p.m. on Monday when several residents reported shots being fired, said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.

When officers arrived, they found the man lying on the sidewalk in front of a parking lot on Pico Boulevard who had been shot multiple times in the lower torso. He was transported to UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, Fabrega said.

Minutes later, SMPD officers found Bell in the parking lot of BT Automotive, where he was arrested.

Although the neighborhood is known for gang-related violence, this incident does not appear to be related to gang activity. Some have suggested that Bell was involved in a dispute with the victim.

Business owners in the area who know Bell were shocked to hear he had been arrested for murder.

“He was a mechanic that I could trust,” said Ron Winkelman, owner of Westside Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning, which is located in the plaza near BT Automotive. “I liked him, he was a good guy... I feel bad for the guy.”

> “He was a mechanic that I could trust. I liked him, he was a good guy... I feel bad for the guy.” — — RON WINKELMAN Westside Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning owner

Although business owners in the area didn’t see the shooting take place since most of the businesses close at 5 p.m., they suspect there was a reason Bell was involved.

According to an employee at a nearby repair shop, the victim stood on the street outside of BT Automotive most of Monday afternoon. Bell stayed late Monday night waiting for a customer to pick up his car, which he did about 8 p.m. Bell was arrested about 30 minutes later.

SMPD detectives blocked off Pico Boulevard between 25th Street and 27th Street most of the night while they investigated the crime scene. The victim was found lying in front of the SGI-USA building, a Buddhist community center, located at 2601 Pico Boulevard.

This is the fourth homicide in Santa Monica this year. Santa Monica Police have arrested all of the suspects connected to them. One suspect who murdered his estranged wife in March at their residence on Ocean Park Boulevard killed himself when police cornered him in Nebraska.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070302-01_01.jpg)

Above: BT Automotive Service was the scene of an arrest Monday night after its manager was charged with murder. (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/070302-01_02.jpg)

Above: BT Automotive Service was the scene of an arrest Monday night after its manager was charged with murder. (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 3, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070302.pdf?ref=smdp.com)