Suspects Charged in Two Brutal Home Invasion Robberies in Santa Monica

By Jorge Casuso

May 31, 2017 -- The two suspects arrested in a brutal home invasion robbery in an upscale Santa Monica neighborhood last week also were responsible for a robbery and brutal assault in a nearby home less than two weeks earlier, according to police.

Police detectives on Wednesday filed charges -- including attempted murder, robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and parole violation -- against Brian Noah Morgan, 24, and a male juvenile suspect.

"Fingerprints and other evidence gathered at the two crime scenes helped tie the incidents together," Police Department spokesman Lt. Saul Rodriguez told The Lookout.

The charges against Morgan, who remains in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with no bail options, were filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Those against the second suspect, who will remain under the custody of Eastlake Juvenile Hall, were filed with the Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse.

"There will be a hearing in the next week or two to see if he can be tried as an adult," Rodriguez said.

In the first incident -- which took place on May 15 at around 3 p.m. in the 500 block of 17th Street -- a man in his early 60s was severely assaulted and taken to a local hospital ("Santa Monica Resident Severely Assaulted in North of Montana Home," May 17, 2017).

The suspects apparently entered the property after knocking on the door, Rodriguez said.

The second incident took place on May 26 several blocks away on the 200 block of 19th Street in a home near the exclusive Riviera Country Club ("Two Hospitalized After Second Home Invasion Robbery in Santa Monica's North of Montana Neighborhood," May 27, 2017).

In that incident two men whose family members said were a father and his 19-year-old son were hospitalized. The son was struck with a hammer or hatchet, and the father was stabbed 15 to 20 times when he tried to intervene, according reports.

The suspects entered through an open door or window or both, Rodriguez said. Both suspects fled the scene but were subsequently captured by police.

The department will continue its enhanced patrolling of the area, Rodriguez said.

"We're doing our best to bring a sense of safety and being in a comfortable environment," he said.

As always, police urge residents to secure their doors and windows and let them know if they see any suspicious subjects or activity, Rodriguez said.

"If you see something, say something," he said quoting the popular law enforcement slogan.

Anyone with additional information related to these incidents should call Detective Goodwin (310) 458-8942, Detective Leone (310) 458-8949, Detective Larios (310) 8937 or the Santa Monica Police Department (310) 458-8491.