Pedestrian Homicide Not Gang Related, Police Say

By Lookout Staff

The fatal shooting of a pedestrian as he crossed the Lincoln Boulevard overpass last Wednesday was not gang related, police said Monday.

"It appears to be domestic in nature," said Lt. Gary Gallinot, the police department spokesman. "It was not gang related, gangs were not involved. It appears that they all knew each other."

The victim, Anthony Conway, 37, was a Santa Monica resident, as are the suspects, Armath Victor Johnson, 31, and Tara Latonya Cox, 29.

Cox and Johnson were arrested the night of the shooting and booked for murder; bail was set at $1 million each.

Police are still interviewing witnesses in an effort to piece together the circumstances that led to the city's first homicide of the year, Gallinot said.

According to witnesses, Conway was walking northbound on Lincoln when a large white Chrysler pulled alongside him. There was an exchange of words before gunfire erupted from the car. One bullet hit Conway in the torso.

Conway was transported to Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead that same night.

On Wednesday police will flyer the scene to encourage additional witnesses to come forward.

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