Victim and Suspects in Year's First Homicide Identified as Santa Monica Residents; Bail Set at $1 Million Each

By Lookout Staff

Police have identified the victim and two suspects involved Wednesday in the city's first homicide this year as Santa Monica residents.

The victim -- who died of a single gunshot wound to the torso after being taken to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center -- was identified as Charles Anthony Conway, 37, police said.

The suspects -- who were arrested without incident by Santa Monica police after exiting the Santa Monica Freeway at La Brea -- were identified as Armath Victor Johnson, 31, and Tara Latonya Cox 29, police said.

Both suspects were booked for murder, and bail was set at $1 million each.

Police would not disclose details of the shooting pending an investigation.

Conway was shot at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday as he was walking northbound over the Lincoln Boulevard overpass. The suspects pulled up alongside Conway in a large white Chrysler and, after exchanging words, fired several shots at the victim.

Conway was hit by one of the bullets and fell to the ground, police said. The suspects drove away northbound on Lincoln.

After dark, a candle placed in a can burned in memory of the victim.

Police would not reveal which of the suspects fired the shots or if the suspects and the victim knew each other, saying that they still are interviewing eyewitnesses.

More details of the shooting likely will be released on Monday, police said.

Anyone who saw or heard the crime should call police at 458-8449.