Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a robbery that led to a fatal shooting at the Westfield Culver City mall, leaving a 25-year-old man dead and another wounded, police announced Wednesday.
Officers with the Culver City Police Department responded about 7:25 p.m. Friday to reports of gunfire in the north parking lot of the mall, according to department spokeswoman Jennifer Atenza.
Police found a man with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified him as 25-year-old Angel Torres of Los Angeles, who police said was a suspect in the robbery.
“During the incident, the suspect confronted additional involved parties in the parking lot armed with a gun, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. During the incident, Torres sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead,” police said in a statement.
A second man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was later located at a hospital, police said. Detectives later identified that man as 27-year-old Kejaun Griggs and arrested him on suspicion of murder, two counts of attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery following an extensive investigation, according to police.
Griggs was being held on $4.25 million bail.
A second suspect, 28-year-old Kelsi Ann Taplette, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and being accessory after the fact, police said.
Taplette was being held on $50,000 bail.
Police said investigators believe there may be additional victims connected to the robbery and are working to identify and contact them.
Two firearms were recovered at the scene of the shooting, according to a police statement.
The homicide was the first in Culver City since 2023, when there were two, Atenza told City News Service.
Culver City police urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to call them at 310-253-6302 or send anonymous tips to tips@culvercity.org.