
A Michigan man, Mohamed Abou-Arabi, age 25, has been sentenced to 26 years to life in a state prison following his conviction for a 2022 murder near the Santa Monica Pier. As reported by KTLA, earlier this month, Abou-Arabi received 25 years to life for the first-degree murder charge, and an additional year for the use of a knife in the violent crime, as detailed in the sentencing proceedings mentioned by the Santa Monica Police Department.
According to KTLA, the victim, also from Dearborn, Michigan, was stabbed in a parking lot just north of the famous beach landmark on November 2, 2022. Despite the definitive conviction, the motives behind Abou-Arabi's action remain undisclosed, as he refused to provide a motive during both the investigation and trial.
Forensic evidence, including hundreds of DNA swabs, latent fingerprints, and extensive photographic documentation, was crucial in identifying Abou-Arabi as the perpetrator, per the Santa Monica Daily Press. The Santa Monica Police Department, in collaboration with the Dearborn Police Department, successfully traced "Abou-Arabi's movements from California back to Michigan following the attack."
The arrest took place in Michigan when SMPD detectives made the trip in January 2023 release. Abou-Arabi's sentencing includes a knife enhancement due to the evidence of the weapon used during the fatal assault. "Excellent work by the SMPD investigative team and the District Attorney’s office bringing this individual to justice," as stated by the City of Santa Monica's official press.