SMPD arrests person connected to July 15 shootings in NOMA
By DAILY PRESS STAFF
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY A second suspect wanted in connection with a shooting north of Montana Avenue was arrested early Friday morning after detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department served several search warrants in the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica.
Morgan Neidlinger, 20, of the Pacific Palisades, was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. after officers found evidence that he was staying at a residence in the 900 block of Cloverdale Avenue in Hollywood. Officers found Neidlinger there and he was transported to the Santa Monica Jail where he was booked on four counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was being held on $2 million bail.
During their searches, officers confiscated several handguns, a Mack-10, magazine clips and ammunition after serving two search warrants at residences located in the 17000 block of Posetano Road and in the 17000 block of Porto Marina Way in the Palisades. A third warrant was served in the 900 block of Sixth Street in Santa Monica. Officers did not say whether or not Neidlinger was the one who pulled the trigger on July 15 when four people were wounded, none life threatening, while attending a house party in the 400 block of 11th Street in Santa Monica. Another suspect, Justus Sackett- Michel, 21, of Los Angeles, voluntarily turned himself in hours after the shooting. He has been charged with premeditated murder and assault with a firearm, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Witnesses at the scene of the shooting told police that several partygoers were approached by a group of men outside the home. One of the men asked the crowd if anyone belonged to a gang or graffiti clique known to have originated at Santa Monica High School.
When the group said no, the man pulled out a small-caliber handgun and fired several shots into the crowd as he ran away from the scene. Witnesses said the shooter jumped in a silver BMW 5-series and fled.
While the officers were at the scene, they were notified that two shooting victims, one male and one female, had arrived at a local hospital and were being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The female victim had been shot in the leg and the male in the forearm and lower torso.
A few minutes later, two other shooting victims, both adult males, arrived at another local hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police have not classified the shooting as gang-related and no gang enhancement has been added to Sackett-Michel’s charges.
Detectives are still investigating and other suspects are being sought, police said.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the SMPD at (310) 458- 8427 or call detectives at (310) 458-8451.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.