By Lookout Staff

September 8, 2025 -- Police on Wednesday arrested a man believed to be homeless who is suspected of stabbing an employee of an eatery near the Pier over Memorial Day weekend.

The stabbing took place Sunday, August 31, at approximately 4:58 p.m. at the top of a pedestrian staircase connecting Ocean Front Walk to Appian Way near the foot of the Pier.

"The suspect approached, stabbed the victim multiple times, and fled on foot," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesperson.

"Responding officers located an adult male who had sustained non-life-threatening stab wounds," Gilmour said.

Officers provided medical aid until Santa Monica Fire Department personnel arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital.

Following an "extensive investigation," officers assigned to routine patrol recognized the suspect, Malvin Walker, 24, Wednesday evening on the 1800 block of Ocean Front Walk.

Officers arrested Walker without incident in connection with the stabbing, police said.

He is being charged with attempted murder, Gilmour said. Walker was also booked on unrelated charges, including a $51,000 warrant for battery and felony vandalism.

According to news reports, the victim was sitting on the steps of the pedestrian staircase eating during a break.

"Witnesses said the victim was an employee at Pier Pizza and Subs and was on his lunch break when he was attacked from behind," according to KTLA.

Pier Pizza and Subs is located at 1603 Ocean Front Walk, a brick storefront at the north end of a short stretch of buildings near the pier.

The storefront was occupied by Starbucks from 2020 until the end of July 2022 before closing because it was no longer safe to operate, company officials said at the time.

The store was one of 16 Starbucks that shut down nationwide, 12 of them in California and Washington, due to drug use, thefts and assaults by customers and members of the public, according to company officials.

Four months earlier, the City removed nearby Chess Park after residents complained it had long been overrun by the homeless, some of whom engaged in criminal and anti-social behavior

Anyone who witnessed the stabbing on Memorial weekend Sunday or has information that may assist in the investigation should contact Detective Isaac Reyes at isaac.reyes@santamonica.gov or the Santa Monica Police Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.