SANTA MONICA, CA — A report of a man with a gun in his waistband following an argument sparked a police search at Santa Monica College Saturday afternoon, but authorities were unable to verify that anyone was armed.
Santa Monica police and Santa Monica College Police Department officers responded at about 4:30 p.m. to the 14th Street side of the campus after receiving an unverified report involving two people who had been in a verbal argument, SMPD Lt. Lewis Gilmour told Patch.
One of the people involved was alleged to have had a firearm in his waistband, Gilmour said.
Officers established a perimeter and conducted a coordinated search of the campus and surrounding area as a precaution, according to information provided to Patch by SMPD.
Police did not locate the reported individual or confirm the presence of a firearm.
"SMPD and College PD investigated, but were ultimately unable to confirm the report was accurate," Gilmour told Patch. The report remains unverified, police said.
The incident occurred two days before the start of Santa Monica College's fall semester Monday. SMC's Fall 2026 schedule lists Aug. 31 as the first day of classes.
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