A man was fatally shot early Monday during a fight between opposing groups near the Santa Monica Pier.
The shooting was reported about 12:30 a.m. in a parking lot on the south side of the pier, according to a sergeant on the watch commander’s desk of the Santa Monica Police Department.
Officers arrived in a parking lot designated 1 North and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, near where a watch party had taken place for the World Cup final, which ended more than eight hours before the gunfire erupted.
The victim’s name and age were not immediately available.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that a physical altercation occurred between two groups prior to the shooting,” according to a police statement. “The circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The suspect or suspects remain outstanding. Santa Monica Police Department detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and there is no additional suspect information available for release at this time.”
A body could be seen in the lot, according to a report from the scene.
The homicide was the first in Santa Monica since March 28 and fourth of the year, matching the total for 2025, Lt. Lewis Gilmour told City News Service.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about what happened and who might have been involved was urged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.
Such a tragic incident occurring so close to a watch party. It’s concerning to see violence escalate in public spaces like this. worth a look