Man May Have Shot Himself Near Palisades Park Police Say

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man who was discovered dead near Palisades Park in Santa Monica may have shot himself in the face, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

According to police, dispatch received a call at about 10:48 p.m. on Sunday reporting a man wearing a grey hoodie who had fired a gun once into the air in the 170 block of Ocean Avenue on the west sidewalk.

Police arrived at the scene and found a spent shell casing, but the suspect had left southbound prior to officers' arrival, SMPD said.

Hours later at 1:12 a.m. on Monday, officers received a call from a woman who said she “saw a male shooting and then shot himself in the face.” Officers responded to the 1500 block of Palisades Park and discovered an unresponsive man at the bottom of the Broadway Stairs near Pacific Coast Highway.

Officers said the victim matched the description of the shooter from the previous call on Ocean Avenue and determined that the two incidents were related.

SMPD said the victim listed an address in the city of Los Angeles but was experiencing homelessness at the time of his death.

Anyone who may have additional information about the incident was urged to contact Detective Chabot at 310-458-6679 or Detective Sergeant Gradle at ryan.gradle@santamonica.gov. After-hours calls can be directed to the 24-hour Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.