A transient man was fatally shot in the back by a man who flagged him down following a brief altercation with a woman in Santa Monica early Thursday, police said.
Officers responded to the 200 block of Broadway, near Second Street, around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to reports of shots fired, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Investigators determined after further investigation that an unidentified woman was in an argument with a homeless man moments before Inglewood resident Fabian Mendez allegedly approached the man, chased him into the middle of the street and shot him in the back.
“The suspect was last seen running northbound in Alley 2 and out of sight,” the police department said in a statement.
The victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of relatives.
Police stated that Mendez is considered armed and dangerous and also warned the public, if located, not to approach or engage with him but to call 911 when it is safe to do so.
Mendez was described as a 6-foot-3-inch tall Hispanic man weighing 280 pounds, with tattoos on his forearms, one of which spells out “Zamora” in large letters.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting was urged to contact Detective Isaac Reyes at 310-458-4852 or by email at Isaac.Reyes@santamonica.gov. Sgt. Alfonso Lozano can be reached at 310-458-8774 or by email at Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov. The watch commander at 310-458-8427.