AIRPORT COURTHOUSE — The man suspected of shooting a woman as she fled a memorial carwash in Santa Monica last week plead not guilty to four felony counts Tuesday, officials said.
Waiverly Thomas, 31, of Colton, was charged with two counts of willful, deliberate, premeditated murder; one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle; and possession of a firearm as a felon, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He is being held on $3,030,000 bail.
Thomas is accused of opening fire on an 18-year-old woman as she ran from a carwash on 19th Street and Pico Boulevard and jumped into a stranger's car at 18th Street and Pico to flee.
The bullets struck the woman and the truck that picked her up. The driver was uninjured.
The driver, whom police describe only as a good Samaritan, took her to the corner of Lincoln and Pico boulevards where paramedics picked her up and took her to a local hospital.
She sustained non-life-threatening wounds, and had refused to cooperate with police as of Monday.
Police caught Thomas an hour after the shooting as he attempted to leave the police perimeter at Delaware Avenue and 16th Street in a 2010 Chevy Impala. Officers also found a handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Daniel Larios at (310) 458-8937 or Sgt. Ira Rutan at (310) 458-8959 or, the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at (310) 458-8495.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME (1-800-78-27463), or submit the tip online at www.wetip.com. You will remain completely anonymous and may be eligible for a reward, up to $1,000, if your information leads to an arrest and conviction.
Callers can also contact Crime Stoppers by either calling (800) 222-TIPS, texting from your mobile, or by visiting their website at www.lacrimestoppers.org. Callers may remain anonymous and may be qualified to receive a $1,000 reward from Crime Stoppers.
ashley@www.smdp.com
