SANTA MONICA (CNS) – The man suspected of shooting a Santa Monica Police Department officer and two juveniles in a Waymo vehicle in the city three days ago remains in custody Thursday after being arrested following a roughly three-hour search.
The officer was hospitalized in stable condition with serious but not life-threatening injuries, the department announced.
The shooting near the Santa Monica Place mall occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday. Santa Monica police issued an alert around 1:30 p.m., urging the public to avoid Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue, where the mall is located.
The officer approached the suspect “because he recognized him from the bulletin” about Sunday’s Waymo shooting, Mayor Lana Negrete told Fox11.
SMPD spokesman Lt. Lewis Gilmour said “During the brief pursuit, the suspect ambushed the officer and fired multiple rounds, striking him before fleeing the area.”
Police from Santa Monica, Los Angeles and El Segundo descended on the area to conduct a thorough search, including assistance from at least one search dog.
Around 4:30 p.m., officers were seen taking a suspect into custody in Palisades Park near the California Incline, according to the department.
The arrest and recovery of a gun followed a tip from a local resident who saw photos of the suspect released by police, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing information from SMPD Chief Ramon Batista.
“This marks the second time in eight months that a Santa Monica officer has been seriously injured in the line of duty — first by stabbing, now by gunfire. The officer injured in the earlier stabbing continues to recover,” the department said in a statement.
The names of the officer and suspect were not released.
The earlier Waymo robotaxi shooting occurred about 11:40 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Second Street and Broadway, according to Gilmour.
It was believed to have been the result of an earlier argument between the victims and the suspect, Gilmour said.
The victims also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
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