Over the weekend, a series of disruptive events marred Santa Monica's Juneteenth and Pride celebrations, as reported by the Santa Monica Police Department on their Facebook page. A weekend of unity and reflection turned chaotic with a shooting, multiple hit-and-runs, and a vandalism incident due to reckless driving.
On Sunday evening, chaos struck near 2nd and Broadway when a shooter targeted and injured two juveniles, fortunately sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. They were quickly transported for medical assistance, with detectives vigorously investigating and appealing for any information from the public. On the previous night, a driver suspected of DUI rammed into a family of five, where one of the family members was just a year old. The child was fortunately unharmed due to the safeguard of a properly used car seat, and the driver was subsequently detained by authorities.
The police presence was also required late Thursday night when officers apprehended an individual engaged in illegal automotive antics, performing donuts and burnouts at Ocean and Colorado, and again in the Pier Deck parking lot, which resulted in pavement damage so severe that it reached the threshold for felony vandalism charges; the investigations into this case is ongoing.
The Santa Monica Police Department’s Facebook post emphasizes the fact that "even during a weekend meant for celebration, reckless and violent behavior puts lives at risk," and they are imploring the community to come forward with any relevant evidence in these incidents giving thanks to those who already provided witness statements, as they continue to prioritize the safety of their citizens.
