On Sunday, March 15, 2026, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire on the Santa Monica Pier following a large fight involving multiple individuals.

During the incident, one individual sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to a local hospital. Officers responded quickly to the scene and provided initial medical aid to the victim before paramedics arrived. The department maintains a regular patrol presence on the Santa Monica Pier, allowing officers to respond rapidly when incidents occur.

A second individual, who suffered a graze wound, also sought medical treatment at a local hospital. Detectives later determined that the second injured individual was the suspected shooter.

The suspect, Jaysawn Williams, 18, of Rialto, was taken into custody after receiving medical treatment and transported to the Santa Monica Jail. Williams was booked on charges of assault with a firearm (PC 245(a)(2)) and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm (PC 246.3(a)).

SMPD officers remain committed to maintaining a visible presence in high-traffic areas such as the Santa Monica Pier to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

The Santa Monica Pier has since reopened and normal operations have resumed.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Esteban Hernandez of the Santa Monica Police Department at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.

Daisy the Venice Healer gives a tour of her new garden.

The Santa Monica Police Department needs your help identifying the individual pictured, suspected of sexual battery.


If you recognize him or have any information, please contact Detective Sean Baker at 310-458-8932 (sean.baker@santamonica.gov).

BOARD SWAP SATURDAY 3/21 at Bay Street Boards We know everyone has some boards stashed in the cut… bring those suckers out on March 21st to do some wheelin’ and dealin’! Hit us up about setting up a spot! Live music from the good homie Chris Kezon!

Bay Street Boards
3216 Santa Monica Blvd,
Santa Monica, CA 90404

For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Explore the evolution of skateboarding culture from its humble roots to a dominant cultural force. Participants retrace pivotal eras, attempting iconic tricks and stunts across Southern California. This journey highlights technical innovations and the rebellious spirit that shaped the sport.

Zuma Cars and Coffee brings every type of person to share the passion of the automobile and motorsports. You will often find the world’s rarest, most expensive and fastest cars displayed here. A community event where celebrities and us regular folk walk around, take pictures and visit with fellow enthusiasts. And we really aren’t snobs!!

Cars on display include hyper-cars, exotic cars, race cars, classic cars as well as the unusual. This is where auto enthusiasts gather to share their amazing vehicles and camaraderie.

Zuma Cars and Coffee is a monthly event beginning at 9:00 AM and ending at 11:30 AM. It takes place on the first Sunday of selected months. The location is at Perry’s Beach Cafe, 2400 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica.

On January 23, 2026, about 8:30 a.m. pacific standard time, a 2024 Jaguar I-Pace sport utility vehicle, equipped with an automated driving system (ADS) and operated by Waymo LLC, struck a 9-year-old student pedestrian crossing midblock within a school zone in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California.

The unoccupied vehicle had completed a passenger drop-off on eastbound Pearl Street at the stop sign in front of an elementary school, turned left onto 24th Street, and proceeded north (see figure). The crash occurred in a 25-mph speed limit school zone, approximately 40 feet north of the end of the adjacent 15-mph speed limit school zone. The weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present.

According to video evidence from a school surveillance camera and from cameras on the ADS-equipped vehicle, a queue of five vehicles had formed in the southbound lane of 24th Street at the stop-controlled intersection with Pearl Street. The student pedestrian exited the right rear door of the fifth vehicle in the queue. The pedestrian then moved toward the front of her vehicle and entered the roadway, crossing at a rapid pace between her vehicle and a Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle stopped in front of her vehicle.

The ADS-equipped vehicle was traveling north on 24th Street at 17 mph. According to video evidence, the vehicle braked and collided with the student pedestrian near its front-right headlight assembly. Post-impact, the pedestrian fell, then walked to the east curb of 24th Street. The vehicle continued braking and came to rest within the northbound travel lane almost immediately.

After the collision, a Waymo remote assistance agent in Novi, Michigan, contacted 911 and later provided the vehicle with directions to move to the curb on 24th Street north of the crash site.The vehicle remained at that location until the Santa Monica Police Department arrived. As a result of the collision, the student pedestrian reported minor injuries and did not require medical transport.

Parties to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation include:

Santa Monica Police Department

Waymo LLC All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.

Join The Bay Foundation & Santa Monica Yoga for a Special Morning of Mindfulness and Dune Restoration! Your participation will contribute to the restoration effort, increase biodiversity and enhance coastal resilience. We look forward to seeing you at the dunes!

February 28, 2026

8:30am - 11:30am

Meditation – 8:30 AM

Begin the morning with a grounding meditation session led by Santa Monica Yoga.

Dune Restoration – 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

After centering your mind, join The Bay Foundation in giving back to our local environment through a hands-on habitat restoration event.

Location: Santa Monica Dunes, Santa Monica 90402

For more info and to register, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Join The Bay Foundation & Climate Action Santa Monica for a Picnic and Dune Restoration! Your participation will contribute to the restoration effort, increase biodiversity and enhance coastal resilience. We look forward to seeing you at the dunes!

March 7, 2026

8:30am - 11:30am

Dune Restoration led by TBF – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Give back to the local environment through a hands-on habitat restoration.

BYO Picnic led by CASM– 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

After the restoration event, join Climate Action Santa Monica for a BYO picnic

Location: Santa Monica Dunes, Santa Monica 90402

For more info and to register, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Former WT pro cyclist Phil Gaimon claims to have received a leak of the LA28 Olympics Road Race course. And it looks like Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Leo Carillo may be shut down fully or partially for the event.

The leaked information says: Venice Beach > PCH > Mulholland Hwy > Rock Store Loops > Mulholland Hwy > Ventura Blvd > Hayvenhurst > Mulholland Dr > Hollywood > Griffith Park

The course will have cyclist leaving Venice Beach top Main Street then Ocean Ave in Santa Monica, down Entrada to PCH in the Palisades, taking PCH past Topanga into Malibu till they reach Leo Carillo, then up to Mulholland and into the Santa Monica Mountains

A man at the beach appears to standing barefoot in a huge puddle of blood, scaring several people. It ends up being watered down paint or food coloring, not real blood. He is doing a "performance piece", wanting to make people think it is real blood. He says it's a "social prank".

Police are called by people thinking he was injured. The officer tells him to clean it up, as it scaing people and can be considered vandalism.

Checking out the Goodboybob x Cars in the Wild - Valentine’s Day Event: Cupid’s Concours Cars and Coffee meet in Santa Monica.

On February 11, 2026, at approximately 9:49 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers received a report of a street robbery that had just occurred near 2nd Streetand California Avenue.

According to preliminary information, multiple suspects armed with a knife took personal property from the victims before fleeing in a dark-colored vehicle.

Using SMART Center resources, officers located the vehicle traveling eastbound on the I-10 Freeway and transitioning to the southbound I-405. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued through multiple jurisdictions before the vehicle was located in the City of Inglewood with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department Air Unit.

The suspects fled on foot, and five individuals were ultimately taken into custody with assistance from the Inglewood Police Department and LAPD Air Support.

There are no outstanding suspects related to this incident.

This remains an active investigation.

On February 7, 2026, at approximately 7:15 a.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a residential complex in the 1900 block of Ocean Avenue to conduct a welfare check. The request was made by a family member who had been unable to contact the occupants for several days.

Officers made entry into the unit with the assistance of building management after receiving no response and discovered two deceased individuals, one male and one female, both 54 years old. Both individuals were found with apparent gunshot wounds, and a firearm was located inside the residence. The individuals were in an advanced state of decomposition.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division are treating this incident as a suspected murder-suicide. Investigators have determined the individuals were known to one another, and there are no outstanding suspects. This appears to be an isolated incident.

There is no known ongoing threat to the public.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending official identification and notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Detective Esteban Hernandez of the Santa Monica Police Department at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.

The Santa Monica City Council Tuesday approved the addition of a second unit to the Fire Department’s new Advanced Provider Unit Program, following the successful launch of the first unit in November 2025.

The Advanced Provider Unit, or APU, is a specialized Mobile Integrated Health resource designed to address complex medical and behavioral health calls and frequent 911 users in a way that supports both community well-being and system resiliency.

The APU initiative is part of the city’s two-year strategic Realignment Plan, building organizational capacity and delivering smarter, more coordinated public safety service.

“This is what modern public safety looks like,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “We’re meeting people where they are, delivering advanced care in the field, reducing strain on our ERs, and keeping ambulances ready for true emergencies. The data from the first three months is clear. It works. Expanding the APU means better outcomes for vulnerable residents and a more resilient system for everyone.”

Staffed by a firefighter-paramedic and a nurse practitioner, the APU combines advanced clinical capability with full integration into Fire Department operations and medical oversight. With this staffing model, the APU team can conduct advanced clinical assessments in the field, provide treatment in place when appropriate, coordinate follow-up care and service connections, and reduce unnecessary emergency department transports.

And by addressing calls that do not require a traditional emergency response, the APU reduces strain on frontline units and allows police officers, fire engines, and ambulances to remain available for truly time-critical incidents.

In just its first three months of operation, the city’s initial APU:

Responded to over 130 calls for service Provided Advanced Level of Care to over 60 patients, including advanced diagnostics, behavioral health screenings, and in home safety assessments

Successfully treated in place and discharged over 20 patients on scene, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits

Avoided the use of ambulances over 50 times, keeping units available for the next emergency

Successfully helped place two elderly, high-utilizer patients into long term care to better meet their complex medical needs.

Building on early success metrics, the APU expansion will facilitate a number of positive outcomes for the community, including:

Increased coverage during peak demand periods

Deployment seven days per week, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Improved response options for complex medical and behavioral health calls

Further reduced avoidable ambulance transports and emergency department utilization

Enhanced overall system resiliency across Fire, Police, and EMS operations

Everything you'd wanna skate, you'll find on the two-mile stretch from Santa Monica to Venice. From Natas to P-Rod, the sand gaps to the triple set, Ted Barrow outlines the history of this hallowed ground. >

As part of the Pier Bridge Replacement Project, construction crews will temporarily close the Moomat Ahiko Way off-ramp from southbound Pacific Coast Highway from Feb. 9 through Feb. 27 to construct the foundation for a temporary pedestrian bridge ahead of the pier bridge reconstruction.

The pedestrian bridge will ensure continued access to the Santa Monica Pier throughout the project.

Motorists traveling to the area are advised to allow for extra travel time and use alternate routes during the two-week off-ramp closure period. A map of suggested detours is available here.

Pier restaurants, shops and entertainment, as well as parking and visitor access will remain open and accessible throughout the Pier Bridge Replacement construction period, ensuring residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the Pier with minimal disruption.

SANTA MONICA BLOCK FEST VOL III [FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL] ALL THREE BLOCKS BABY | THIRD STREET PROMENADE

ALL THREE BLOCKS BABY | THIRD STREET PROMENADE

Sat, Feb 14 at 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM

III Stages. III Blocks. III Collectives. Our love letter to Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Block Fest returns for its biggest edition yet, transforming the Promenade into a FREE Music Festival across all III Blocks this Saturday Feb 14.

[1400 BLOCK: YAPPY STUDIOS STAGE | 5PM - 12AM]

LOCATION: Between Santa Monica Blvd & Broadway

LINEUP: Pedroz | BOMBAYS B2B Juush | Monción | CONRXD

HOUSE | TECH HOUSE | MINIMAL BASS HOUSE

[1300 BLOCK: PRODUCT PLUTO STAGE | 5PM - 12AM]

LOCATION: Between Arizona Ave & Santa Monica Blvd

LINEUP: Mungo Sound Machine | Max Coletto | David Strand | Ross

LIVE VINYL | HOUSE | GROOVE HOUSE

[1200 BLOCK: BEAT REPEAT STAGE | 8PM - 12AM]

LOCATION: Between Wilshire Blvd & Arizona Ave

LINEUP: Casmalia | Westside V | CJØY

HOUSE | TECH HOUSE | GROOVE HOUSE

EVENT FEATURES:

Free Entry

Three Custom Stages with Full Production

21+ Pop-up Bars

Open Container Policy throughout the EZSM zone

Stacked DJ Lineup Across All Three Blocks

VIP Private Lounges

Local Vendors

All Ages Welcome

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

February Locals’ Night is bringing the rhythm with BroadStage's Jazz Night featuring phenomenal alumni from Stanley Clarke's Artist Residency program. These cats are laying down serious grooves to celebrate Black History Month, while Offhand Wine Bar keeps the vibe smooth with perfectly paired selections. And trust us, there's so much more in store! The sweetest note? It's FREE for everyone!

🎷 Live Jazz Performances
🎧 DJ
🍷 Offhand Wine Bar
🏿 Black History Month
🚗 Classic Cars
📚 Books & Cookies
✨ & More!

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

A Waymo vehicle struck a child on Friday, January 23. According to the NHTSA, the incident occurred within two blocks of a Santa Monica, CA elementary school during normal school drop off hours and that there were other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles were in the vicinity. The child ran across the street from behind a double parked SUV towards the school and was struck by the Waymo AV. Waymo reported that the child sustained minor injuries.

At the time of the incident, the Waymo AV was operated by Waymo’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS). No safety operator was present in the vehicle.

Waymo released a statement:

"At Waymo, we are committed to improving road safety, both for our riders and all those with whom we share the road. Part of that commitment is being transparent when incidents occur, which is why we are sharing details regarding an event in Santa Monica, California, on Friday, January 23, where one of our vehicles made contact with a young pedestrian. Following the event, we voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that same day. NHTSA has indicated to us that they intend to open an investigation into this incident, and we will cooperate fully with them throughout the process.

The event occurred when the pedestrian suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle's path. Our technology immediately detected the individual as soon as they began to emerge from behind the stopped vehicle. The Waymo Driver braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact was made.

To put this in perspective, our peer-reviewed model shows that a fully attentive human driver in this same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver.

Following contact, the pedestrian stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk, and we called 911. The vehicle remained stopped, moved to the side of the road, and stayed there until law enforcement cleared the vehicle to leave the scene.

This event demonstrates the critical value of our safety systems. We remain committed to improving road safety where we operate as we continue on our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver."

A parent posted this statement online:

"Happened in my kids school, grant elementary. From everything I heard, it’s the kids/parents fault for sure. They let the child out on the opposite side of the street ad the kids ran behind a car to cross the street. There is a crossings guard just next to him but they still ran. I hope they will charge the parents for negligence. I’m not here to protect a corporation but I believe that if it was a human driver the kid would had it worse."

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.