Santa Monica police officers shot and killed a man on Saturday evening after he attacked an officer standing in the doorway of the Downtown Santa Monica police station.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), an officer was in front of the station at Olympic and 4th at about 5:21pm collecting information from a resident about an unrelated call when a man in his 30s confronted the officer.
"Our officer explained to the individual that he needed to wait while he spoke with the
other party," Lieutenant Erika Aklufi said in a press release.
"Without warning, the individual attacked the officer while pulling a knife from his clothing. The suspect slashed and stabbed the officer. The officer immediately moved away and armed himself with his duty weapon. The suspect followed the officer continuing the knife attack as the wounded officer retreated around the corner of the building where the officer involved shooting occurred."
She said SMPD officers provided medical aid until emergency medical technicians arrived, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
SMPD Chief Ramon Batista said during a news conference on Saturday evening that the officer was stabbed multiple times throughout the attack and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Batista described the officer's injuries as "very serious" however, he's in stable condition and is expected to survive. The officer wasn't identified, but Batista confirmed that he is in his 30s and has been with the department for less than a decade.
"In Santa Monica, we pride ourselves in trying to keep our city safe. Unfortunately, we've had a very serious series of events that have occurred in our city since this summer," Batista said, adding, "Nonetheless, our officers are going to continue the work of going out there, providing public safety to our residents, every single day."
Aklufi said the incident will be investigated by multiple agencies including the Coroner's Office, SMPD and District Attorney's Office.
The Santa Monica Police Officers' Association responded to the incident by reiterating their calls for more officers.
"Over the weekend a Santa Monica Police officer was viciously attacked with a knife receiving several serious injuries. The dangers police officers face are real, even here in Santa Monica. In my years at the Police Department there has been an officer intentionally run over by a car, an officer shot and now, one stabbed. This incident is a sad culmination of many factors of the place we find ourselves in," said Cody Green on behalf of the SMPOA. "In order to answer calls for service in a timely manner officers respond to some calls without a second officer to assist them, as was the case here. This is not the safest way to do police work but due to officer shortage and to avoid people having to wait for extended periods to get their calls answered, it happens."
Mayor Phil Brock, who is up for reelection this year, also emphasized the need for increased public safety efforts.
"This tragic incident demonstrates the repeated calls by the residents of Santa Monica for an urgent commitment by all city leaders to prioritize the safety of all our residents and visitors, no matter their age. From our children to our seniors, ALL of us deserve safe streets in Santa Monica. We cannot continue to tolerate the lack of lawlessness caused by mental illness, drug abuse, and the lack of penalties in our county that continue to raise justifiable fear among the good residents of our city," he said. "This has to STOP, NOW!"
In a letter to the community, Chief Batista thanked everyone for their support.
"The overwhelming kindness, compassion, and solidarity we’ve received from residents and business owners remind us how fortunate we are to serve a city that stands united in the face of adversity. Your gestures—whether through kind words, messages, or actions—have made an immense difference to the officer, their family, and the entire department," he said. "This unfortunate event reinforces the importance of community support and law enforcement collaboration. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect and serve you, knowing that we have a community behind us that values safety, security, and collaboration. Together, we will overcome challenges and build a future rooted in mutual respect and support."
Anyone with information about this incident or suspect is asked to contact the Watch
Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
matt@smdp.com
