A man has been convicted for the first-degree murder of a man found stabbed to death near Santa Monica Pier, as officials announced on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Mohamed Abou-Arabi, a 24-year-old Michigan resident, was linked to the crime which occurred on Nov. 2, 2022, according to KTLA. Responding to a call from a bystander, Santa Monica Police discovered the victim inside a vehicle in a parking lot north of the pier.
Forensic specialists were able to gather key DNA evidence and fingerprints, which led investigators to identify Abou-Arabi, who had also recently returned to Michigan from California. Despite two prior arrests in Michigan for misdemeanor weapons offenses, Abou-Arabi had no prior arrests or convictions in California. Teams from the Santa Monica Police Department and the Dearborn Police Department collaborated to trace his movements after the incident, and Abou-Arabi was arrested in January 2023, detailed in a statement from the Santa Monica City website.
During his trial, which concluded in September 2024, Abou-Arabi refused to provide a motive for the murder and was subsequently found guilty of first-degree murder. The prosecutors also added an enhancement for using a knife in the fatal attack. The connection between the two men, both originating from Dearborn, Michigan, has not been made public.
The sentence for Abou-Arabi's conviction has been scheduled for December, however, the specific date has not been released. According to Lieutenant Erika Aklufi, whose contact was provided on the Santa Monica city website, Abou-Arabi has not given any explanation for his actions throughout the course of the investigation and trial.
