By Lookout Staff

February 17, 2025 -- An Inglewood man was arrested last Tuesday and charged with the murder of a homeless man in a Downtown alley last month, police officials said.

Police detectives arrested Fabian Mendez, 27, after "an extensive and thorough investigation" into the fatal shooting on January 15, said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesman.

The arrest comes nearly one month after police identified the suspect the day after the shooting took place in an alley on the 200 block of Broadway at around 1:30 a.m., marking the year's first homicide.

According to police, Mendez approached the victim, who was seen arguing with an unidentified female, and "chased him into the middle of the street, shooting (him) in the back."

Despite lifesaving efforts by responding officers, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

Mendez was last seen running northbound in the alley on the 200 block of Broadway and "out of sight," police said.

The following day, SMPD circulated images of Mendez, who was considered armed and dangerous, showing the distinctive tattoos on his forearms and the suspect running in a red jumpsuit.

Mendez was taken into custody by Santa Monica police and bail has been set at $3 million.

The shooting was one of three homicides that have taken place in Santa Monica in the first month and a half of the year, compared to a total of five last year.

Two of the killings took place last week. On Saturday a man was fatally stabbed outside the Miramar Hotel, and last Monday a homeless woman was beaten to death while sleeping on the beach.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact Det. Isaac Reyes at Isaac.Reyes@santamonica.gov or (310) 458-4852, Detective Sergeant Alfonso Lozano at Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov or (310) 458-8774, or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.