19-Year-Old Man Accused Of Shooting Woman In The Face

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 19-year-old man accused of shooting a woman in the face during a dispute in Santa Monica is facing assault with deadly weapon charges, according to police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Suspect Alexander Cogco was already in custody at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail for an unrelated case when the district attorney's office charged him with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury, officials said last week .

The shooting happened Nov. 3, 2020, about 11:58 p.m. near Bay Street and Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica Police Lt. Rudy Flores said. Officers found a woman who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.

The woman and her boyfriend were walking to their parked vehicle when they came between two groups that were engaged in a heated argument, Flores said.

"As the couple entered their car, they heard multiple gunshots," Flores said. "One of the rounds fired went through the victim’s vehicle and struck the female. The parties in both groups fled the area prior to police arrival."

The victim survived but needed surgery to remove bullet fragments from around her eye area, police said.

Cogco remains in custody pending future court proceedings. His bail is set at $140,000.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Santa Monica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division at (310) 458-8451 or the Watch Commander’s office at (310) 458-2249.