Suspect Charged in Santa Monica Shooting Last Month

By Lookout Staff

March 12, 2018 -- Santa Monica police detectives filed attempted murder charges on Friday against a suspect involved in a shooting Downtown last month.

Carl Marcel Nelson, a 33-year old resident of Los Angeles, also was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and with being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm, police said.

The incident took place February 17 at about 2 a.m. near 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman. "Officers determined several male subjects were involved in a physical fight after exiting a nearby nightclub, which led to the suspect brandishing a firearm," Rodriguez said. The suspect shot the male victim multiple times in the lower leg and fled, Rodriguez said. Carl Marcel Nelson (Courtesy SMPD)

The victim was found in a nearby car and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for multiple gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening, police said.

After "extensive investigative efforts," detectives linked Nelson to the attempt homicide, Rodriguez said.

SMPD officers took Nelson into custody on March 7 in the 10000 block of East Flower Street in Los Angeles.

The charges were filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Airport Division Courthouse.

Nelson remains in custody with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office on a $2.165 million bail pending future court proceedings, police said.

Anyone with information related to the investigation should contact Detective Cooper at (310) 458-8478; or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.