Santa Monica Man Arrested in Slaying of Store Manager
A Santa Monica man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of David A. Bellet, 22-year-old manager of the AM-PM Mini Mart at 332 Pico Blvd.
Bellet, of Palms, died of massive head injuries Tuesday at Santa Monica Hospital.
Santa Monica Police Sgt. Dick Tapia said Namon Lavon Tompson, 25, was taken into custody by Santa Monica police officers Thursday in the 2500 block of Ocean Park Boulevard and booked on suspicion of murder and robbery. Bellet was attacked during a robbery outside the market Monday. He was taking the store’s receipts to the bank about 12:30 p.m. and was getting into his car when he was struck from behind with a baseball bat, police said.
Police said two men at the store’s gas pumps ran toward the robber. He dropped the bat and ran south on 4th Street carrying a bag containing approximately $8,000 in receipts. Witnesses chased him for a few blocks but lost him when he ran into an apartment building at 2035 4th St.
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