The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has released an official statement regarding Monday morning's multiple assault on the 1300 block of the beach, near Lifeguard Tower 13.
According to SMPD, officers responded to a call of a male subject assaulting multiple victims on the beach, just north of the pier. The subject, later identified as Jawann Dwayne Garnett of Los Angeles, attacked a 17-year-old girl who was on the sand near Lifeguard Tower 13, striking and strangling her. He has been confirmed as currently being homeless.
A 25-year-old female bystander, also experiencing homelessness, intervened in the attack, suffering injuries when Garnett punched her and bit her ear. Garnett then attacked a female in her 70s who was walking near the waterline, pulling her into the ocean and holding her underwater.
Lifeguards and police officers were on-scene within minutes, interrupting Garnett’s attack and taking him into custody. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries and later released. The other two victims were treated at the scene by lifeguards and fire department personnel.
Today, Wednesday June 26, 2024, the District Attorney filed the following charges:
• Victim 1 (juvenile)
664/187(a) PC–attempted murder and 273(a) PC–felony child abuse
• Victim 2 (bystander)
245(a)(4) PC–assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce grievous bodily injury and 220(a)(1) PC–assault with intent to commit rape
• Victim 3 (elder)
664/187(a) PC–attempted murder and 207(a) PC–kidnapping
Garnett has a significant criminal history in Los Angeles County, including prior arrests for the following crimes: assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon (firearm), domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm), theft, trespassing and failing to register as a sex offender.
In December 2021, Garnett was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department in Topanga for attempted oral copulation through force and was subsequently charged and convicted for assault with the intent to commit sexual assault. Garnett was placed on probation.
According to SMPD, Garnett is currently on formal probation for that assault with the intent to commit sexual assault conviction and has been arrested for multiple violations of his probation terms. He was released on June 6, 2024, on his own recognizance for a probation violation and is scheduled to go to court for the violation on August 5, 2024.
On June 9, 2024, Garnett was arrested by SMPD for failing to register as a sex
offender. While in custody, Garnett was registered as a sex offender in the City of Santa
Monica and released with a citation with a promise to appear in court. This was SMPD’s only encounter with Garnett prior to the attack on the beach.
Garnett is being held on $1 million bail.
Anyone with information related to this incident or this individual is encouraged to contact
Detective Lucero at Hilda.Lucero@santamonica.gov, Detective Sergeant Goodwin at
Chad.Goodwin@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427 (24 hours).
scott.snowden@smdp.com
