By Lookout Staff

December 27, 2024 -- The suspect in a hit-and-run collision that killed an elderly Vietnam Veteran Sunday as she crossed Wilshire Boulevard was arrested Friday for murder, according to Santa Monica police.
Rod Sharif, 30, -- whose vehicle was captured on video striking the victim at a crosswalk at the intersection of Chelsea Avenue -- was also booked for felony hit and run, police officials said.

Sharif has prior arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) and reckless driving, said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

Sharif was arrested at his Los Angeles home in Santa Monica Canyon by officers from SMPD’s Traffic Unit, along with SWAT and detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division, Aklufi said.

The officers served search and arrest warrants after "thorough and diligent work on this case" identified Sharif as the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash, which was captured on video.

"Several items of evidence were recovered from the home along with the white Toyota Rav4 that had significant front-end damage that appeared to have been caused during the accident," Aklufi said.

A 39-second video obtained by police shows the speeding vehicle striking the victim and tossing her across the sidewalk, leaving only her shoes in the middle of the street.

Officers and paramedics responding to dispatch calls found the victim on the ground and pronounced her dead at the scene, Aklufi said.

The arrest comes one day after police asked the public for help identifying the suspect, who was also captured by a surveillance camera walking past a fruit stand before the crash.

Anyone with information related to the incident should email Investigator Raleigh at Evan.Raleigh@santamonica.gov or Investigator Lewis at Lantz.Lewis@santamonica.gov.

They can also call SMPD's non-emergency dispatch line at 310-458-8491 or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.