Man fatally shot near park in Santa Monica

A man was shot and killed tonight near a park in Santa Monica, police said.

The shooting was reported at 8:58 p.m. near Pico Boulevard and 20th Street by Virginia Park, police said.

The victim "was just hanging out by the park," said Lt. Mohamed Marhaba of the Santa Monica Police Department.

The park is in the city's Pico neighborhood, which has been the scene of several gang-related shootings in recent years.

Police had set up a perimeter around the park and were searching for a suspect. One person was detained for questioning. "We don't know if he's a suspect," Marhaba said.

Details on the victim and the circumstances of the killing were not available tonight.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[Schigolch]

Repeat after me: Illegal immigration does not increase crime. Illegal immigration does not increase crime. Illegal immigration does not increase crime.

Keep repeating this until you start to believe it.

[Anon]

Yeah, I live right here where it happened - the reporting on this has been shoddy, at best. And it was 22nd and Pico, not 20th.

[A mom]

"A man was shot and killed tonight near a park in Santa Monica, police said"

Corrections: The killing happened IN THE PARK...in front of the Wilma Terry Center, near Virginia Avenue and 21st street....

I called 911 @ 8:51.

My neighbor biked home from SMC and saw the whole thing.....

R.I.P young man and sympathy goes out to family and friends.

[anon]

I do agree that the reporting has been shoddy. The young man wasn't "just hanging out at the park", he was on break from a night class.

As for Schigolch's comment...what is the point of your comment? The young man was born and raised in Santa Monica....don't make assumptions and put your negative take on something until you know the facts. This is a human life that was tragically taken by cowards.

[steve]

I live in Santa Monica. It's nice but not the paradise people believe. The homeless are out of control and the City Council pays no attention to its own citizens (not unlike most of our modern political institutions). Santa Monica gives a little yet takes a lot.

[Anon]

I'm just wondering why this is all over the news and why a shooting earlier in the day in Venice is mysteriously missing from any newspaper and newscast. We all have the right to know what is going on in our neighborhoods.

[AMEN]

The young man who passed away at the park was on a break from a art class not "Hanging Out" Lt Marhaba he was a young that was killed for no reason ,maybe the park should be patrolled like the pier is on a sunday afternoon with about 50 officers, this has been a problem and I hope it will get fixed we need foot patrols everyday in the community or close that park.Richard you will be missed our prayers are with you and your family God Bless.Also the person who witnessed the whole thing I pray to god that you are involved in helping to get these COWARDS found and brought to justice.

[Lisa]

To Schigolch
This young man, who happens to be my nephew, is a sixth generation Californian. And there have been memembers of each generation who have served in all the armed services and fought in our country's wars back to WWII. Can you say the same?

[John]

While it is tragic to lose a family member, this young man chose to dress and act in a manner that made him a target, and affiliate with gang members if he was not one himself. If you look at his photos, the tattoos, poses, and the remarks from his associates, well, the conclusion is easy.

So while we should have concern for the innocents that may be in his family, we should have no mercy for those who would have allowed him to live in Santa Monica and threaten the lives of law-abiding citizens.

For too long, we have been forgiving and enabling of those who spit in our faces. It is time, as a polite and civil society, to take a "zero tolerance" approach to gang membership and culture, and remove this blight permanently.

[Peg]

Ah yes, isn't the neighborhood getting lovelier and lovelier? And to think we used to drive past the park all the time. Glad we escaped from L.A.

[Cousin]

This is in response to "John". First off, for you to say you have no mercy for someone who "dressed" and "posed" like a gangmember is inhumane and may God have mercy on YOUR soul for being JUDGEMENTAL!! How dare you pass judgement on someone who was actively involved in the community and attending a CLASS at that time he was murdered!!!
He was NOT threatening anyone's life...he was educating himself at a class given at the park, eating an ice cream with friends on a break when those murderers ran up on him giving him no chance to live. Let alone endangering anyone's life...get the story right before you ever pass judgement on any one especially someone who isnt here to defend himself because of a senseless act of crime!! HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT!

As for allowing him to live in the city let me tell you that his family...MY family has lived in this city probably longer than YOU have. Judge all you want, my family is 6th generation Californian and has roots in this city that go back 50 years!! Again JOHN get your story right before you not only pass judgement but put down an innocent man who my family has to mourn and lay to rest.

[friend]

+i agreee with his cousin not because you dress like supossibly a gang member you shouldnt be judjing a person for how they dress or for their raice ´jhon doesnt know how he was he is just talking and maybe he didnt even know him he doesnt even know wha his family is right now i knew him and i know how he was R.I.P RICHIE.