PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — Police shot and killed a man Friday night after he allegedly opened fire on his wife at a busy intersection in Downtown Santa Monica and then shot at officers as they attempted to apprehend him a few blocks away.
The man, who has been identified as James Stephen Ramirez, 33, allegedly shot his wife multiple times in the vicinity of Santa Monica Boulevard and Seventh Street at 6:12 p.m. on Friday. She was taken to a local hospital and was said to be in critical condition.
After responding to a 911 call, officers located the suspect on Ninth Street near Broadway a short time later, according to Santa Monica Police Capt. Wendell Shirley.
The suspect fired his weapon at officers but missed, Shirley said. One or more officers returned fire, striking the suspect an undisclosed number of times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No police officer or bystander was injured in either of the shootings, Shirley said.
As the investigation continued after 8 p.m. Friday, several blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, Broadway and Ninth Street were closed to traffic.
Shirley said he believed the violence resulted from a domestic conflict but did not say what caused the man’s rampage.
