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# Two Santa Monica men shot dead
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/two-santa-monica-men-shot-dead/
- Published: 2005-03-07T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T06:11:57.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Sunset Park, #archive-import

*Police search for suspects in Moose Lodge shooting that killed two, injured one*

*By Daily Press staff*

SUNSET PARK — Two Santa Monicans were gunned down and another was injured Saturday night at the Moose Lodge after an argument ensued during a private party.

The victims’ identities had not been released by the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, pending notification of next of kin. The third victim was shot in the leg and is recovering at a local hospital, according to police. Sources close to the investigation say the victims who were murdered are two men, 19 years old and 25 years old, and live in Santa Monica. One of them is reportedly the son of an active community member involved in Mothers For Justice, a group based in the Pico neighborhood with the mission of ending unfair discipline treatment and racial profiling in the Santa Monica-Malibu School District.

At 11:02 p.m., Santa Monica Police responded to 1600 Ocean Park Blvd. after someone reported that shots had been fired. Police say the gunmen opened fire after an argument ensued between several people inside the lodge.

The suspects fled from the scene and have not been caught. They are described as two Hispanic males, between 18 and 20 years old, wearing dark hooded sweatshirts. Santa Monica police officers on Sunday were seen on Pico Boulevard with bloodhounds, attempting to pick up a scent of the suspects.

Following the murders, police loaded between 50 and 70 witnesses who attended the private party onto Big Blue Buses and took them to be questioned.

About 20 police cars responded to the call, and officers sealed off the exterior of the lodge, located at the corner of 16th Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. Ocean Park between 14th and 17th streets was closed to traffic while police investigated the area.

On Sunday morning, police were interviewing people at the scene.

The double homicide occurred across the street from John Adams Middle School, where a community workshop was held on Feb. 26 that addressed how to end gang violence in Santa Monica. It’s unknown whether Saturday’s incident was gang related.

The shootings are the first local homicides of the year. The last double homicide that occurred in Santa Monica was in 1998, when Michael Juarez, 27, and Anthony Juarez, 19, were visiting their cousin’s business, Westside Clothing, when three masked gunmen stormed the store and fired numerous rounds from an assault rifle and two handguns.

Anyone having additional information about Saturday’s homicide is encouraged to contact the robbery-homicide unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8451\. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip national hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030705-01_01.jpg)

Police talk to onlookers behind Moose Lodge following a double murder there Saturday night. (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 7, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030705.pdf?ref=smdp.com)