A man suspected of being involved in a violent smoke shop robbery in Santa Monica was in custody Friday after being arrested at the end of a police chase.
An employee was shot in the leg during the armed robbery about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday at Smoke World, located at 1914 Lincoln Blvd., according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
“Officers responded to the business after reports of an armed robbery involving two suspects,” the department said in a statement. “During the incident, an employee was injured and sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.”
A police officer used a tourniquet to stem the victim’s bleeding before the worker was taken to a hospital.
The suspects were last seen leaving the area in a dark gray Dodge Charger traveling south on Lincoln Boulevard, police said.
One of the suspects was involved in a chase with California Highway Patrol officers that ended early Friday on the southbound Long Beach (710) Freeway in East Los Angeles.
“CHP had a pursuit, and it does appear one of their suspects was involved in the robbery we had at Lincoln/Pico Wednesday,” Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Lewis Gilmour told City News Service.
According to a news videographer who followed the chase, a gun was tossed from the suspect vehicle during the chase and later recovered.