Man At Large After Shooting Homeless Man In Santa Monica: PD

SANTA MONICA, CA — An Inglewood man remains at large after shooting a homeless man in the back following a brief altercation with a third person early Thursday, according to police.

Officers responded to the 200 block of Broadway, near Second Street, at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to reports of shots fired, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Investigators determined that an unidentified woman was in an argument with a homeless man moments before the suspect, Fabian Mendez, approached the man. Mendez is accused of then chasing him into the middle of the street and shooting him in the back, police said.

Mendez was last seen running northbound in Alley 2, according to police.

The victim has not yet been publicly identified.

Mendez is armed and dangerous, police said, and anyone who sees him should not approach or engage with him, and instead call 911.

Mendez is described as a 6-foot-3 Hispanic man who weighs 280 pounds. He has 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 Isaac.Reyes@santamonica.gov; Sgt. Alfonso Lozano at 310-458-8774 or Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov; or the watch commander at 310-458- 8427.

City News Service contributed to this report.