Santa Monica Shooting: 1 Dead After Shots Fired At Bus Passengers

SANTA MONICA, CA – One person was killed in a shooting in Santa Monica early Saturday morning after police say several suspects fired into a bus parked on Ocean Avenue. The shooting was reported just before 1 a.m. near Ocean Avenue and Colorado Boulevard near the Santa Monica Pier, according to police.

One person was treated at the scene and three others were transported to a local hospital for treatment, police said. One unidentified female victim died due to injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. Two additional hospitalized victims are in stable condition, police said.

Police said in a press release that occupants of a bus parked along Ocean Avenue and Colorado Boulevard exited the vehicle and at some point got into an altercation with several people that exited another nearby bus. According to police, a short while later several suspects fired multiple rounds into the first bus, striking four victims, one of whom was on Ocean Avenue. The bus drive to the Santa Monica Public Safety Facility with three victims onboard.

"One of the buses had a group of people that got off the bus, got into an altercation of some sort with another group that was on another bus that was directly parked behind it, at which point shots were fired," Lt. Saul Rodriguez of the Santa Monica Police said, according to KABC-TV.

According to police, the suspects fled the area westbound in Palisades Park and jumped over a railing towards the Pacific Coast Highway. Police say they are looking for two to three male suspects. The investigation is on-going.

SMPD are seeking the public's assistance in locating witnesses or anyone in the area at the time of this incident. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Detective Leone (310) 458-8949; Detective Cooper (310) 458-8478; or the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at (310) 458-8495.

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