Fleeing Thief Shot to Death by Police

Santa Monica police Tuesday reported they shot to death a 20-year-old man who led them on a foot chase after he was spotted trying to break into a car.

The man’s name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

Police Lt. Richard Johncola said the man was seen breaking into a car in the 200 block of 15th Street but fled on foot. Private security officers spotted him and notified police, who searched the 400 block of Georgina Avenue.

A police officer confronted the man as he was apparently trying to rob a resident of his car keys, police said. The officer ordered the thief to “freeze,” Johncola said, but the man spun around and the officer, seeing what he thought was a handgun, fired once and the man fled.

Four officers chased the man, Johncola said, and confronted him in the yard of the home. He was told again to “freeze” but ran. Several more shots were fired, fatally wounding him.

Johncola said no weapon was recovered. He said the department will not release names of the officers involved.