Pico Shooting Marks Year's First Homicide

By Lookout Staff

Sept. 2 -- A young black man was fatally shot in the crime-prone Pico Neighborhood Tuesday evening, marking the city's first homicide this year, police said.

Police responded to shots fired in the alley on the 1800 block of 20th street at 5:46 p.m., said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the police department spokesman. When officers arrived they found the victim lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound.

Santa Monica Fire Paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital where he later died.

The identity of victim -- described only as a black male -- has not been released pending notification of the family.

The shooting occurred near a violence-riddled pocket of the Pico Neighborhood where five shootings took place earlier this year. No one was injured in the shootings.

Police arrested eight suspects in the shooting spree. The charges ranged from parole violations to attempted murder.

The area has been the scene of numerous shootings during recent years, some of them gang-related.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Robbery/Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at 310.458.8451 or the Watch Commander’s Office at 310.458.8426.