August 8, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Special weapons team dispatched to Santa Monica apartment due to barricaded suspect

The special weapons team was dispatched to an address in the 800 block of Ocean Park Boulevard, near Lincoln Boulevard, at 12:32 p.m. to assist the sheriff's department's Major Crimes Bureau with the barricaded suspect. (Thinkstock)
The special weapons team was dispatched to an address in the 800 block of Ocean Park Boulevard, near Lincoln Boulevard, at 12:32 p.m. to assist the sheriff’s department’s Major Crimes Bureau with the barricaded suspect. (Thinkstock)

A suspect wanted in connection with a man’s fatal stabbing barricaded himself inside a Santa Monica apartment for more than five hours on Saturday, prompting evacuations of nearby residences as a sheriff’s special weapons team backed by an airborne unit sought his surrender.

The special weapons team was dispatched to an address in the 800 block of Ocean Park Boulevard, near Lincoln Boulevard, at 12:32 p.m. to assist the sheriff’s department’s Major Crimes Bureau with the barricaded suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect, whose family members told a reporter at the scene is a man in his 20s, was taken into custody about 5 p.m. after he emerged shirtless and limping down an outdoor stairway, a police dog biting at one of his legs.

“The situation concluded after tear gas was deployed into the location,” Deputy Grace Medrano of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. “As the suspect began to exit the location, he attempted to return back inside when the Special Enforcement Bureau K-9 was deployed. The K-9 was able to control and bring the suspect to awaiting deputy personnel with no further incident.”

The man was wanted in connection with a homicide about 4:10 p.m. on Feb. 10 in the 8000 block of Vermont Avenue in an unincorporated area near South Los Angeles, Medrano said.

The sheriff’s department had reported shortly after the killing that a man was fatally stabbed at that time and location. Victim Wesley Morejon, 30, died at a hospital, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter, who said the man was injured in the 8900 bock of Vermont Avenue.

According to sources at the scene of today’s standoff, roads were closed in the area as a sheriff’s helicopter orbited low, emanating orders for the man to surrender.

A couple that lives in an apartment below the one where the suspect was holed up told a reporter they heard orders being shouted for the suspect to surrender between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

They called authorities and were first told to shelter in place before later being told by deputies to clear out of their apartment, they said.

Santa Monica police and fire paramedics were stationed nearby in a support role as the standoff played out.

Emmy-winning actress Dana Delany, who lives in the neighborhood, wrote on the social media website Twitter, “The Sheriff & SM Police did an excellent job. 3X they warned him to come out. Then came the gas. After that, the dog went in. The SWAT team brought him out hopping on one foot because the dog bit the other.”

Delany, who received outstanding lead actress in a drama series Emmys in 1989 and 1992 for her role as nurse Colleen McMurphy in the ABC Vietnam War drama “China Beach,” described the suspect as a “skinny dude with no shirt and all red from the gas.”

Delany tweeted that her favorite story from the standoff “was a guy who was hungry & pulled over to eat his burrito.”

“Cops told him he had to leave his car and move away from area. So he was stranded for hours. Moral: eat when you get home.”

Related Posts

Full Moon Frights at Cinespia: Vampires, Werewolves, and a Night Under the Stars

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Double Feature Coincides With Rare Celestial Triple Event Cinespia invites fans of horror comedy classics will gather under the glow...

Xenomorphs Hit Hollywood: FX Launches Global ‘Alien: Earth’ Hunt Ahead of Series Premiere

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Fans Can Track “Crash-Site” Crates in LA for Instant Prizes, Photo Ops, and Sweepstakes FX is bringing the world of...

Glorya Kaufman, Dance, Arts and Health Philanthropist Who Transformed L.A.’s Landscape, Dies at 95

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

From Culver City, Brentwood, UCLA, USC, and Downtown LA, Her Generosity was Legendary Glorya Kaufman, a transformative benefactor to the...

Overnight Lane Closures Set for I-405 Through Sepulveda Pass Next Week

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Caltrans to Close Multiple Northbound and Southbound Lanes Nightly  Caltrans will implement overnight lane closures along Interstate 405 in the...

Levain Bakery Lands in Beverly Hills with Cookies, Swag, and a Sweet Surprise

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Newest Location’s Debut Includes Limited-Edition Flavor, Early-Bird Giveaways Levain Bakery will mark the opening of its newest location in Beverly...

Bistro Blue’s One Night Only Seasonal Menu Pops Up at Little City Farms August 10

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Chef Kara Vorabutr’s Garden Dinner Promises to be a Seasonal Showstopper Bistro Blue, a pop-up concept by Chef Kara Vorabutr,...

Cardinale du Vin’s Weekend Izakaya Pop-Up Blends Thai Flavors and Japanese Dishes

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Three Nights Only: Thai-Japanese Fusion Menu Launched in Pico-Robertson Cardinale du Vin is unveiling a special izakaya-inspired menu this weekend,...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Classic Rock Tribute Takes Center Stage at Beverly Hills Summer Series, Concerts on Canon

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rod Lightning and the Thunderbolts of Love Bring High-Energy Hits to the Stage The City of Beverly Hills continues its...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

DUI Suspect Identified and Charged in Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old, Injured Brother

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

RV Driver to Face Serious Felony Charges After Striking Boys Riding E-Scooter The 46-year-old man who was allegedly driving under...

Late-Night Traffic Stop in L.A. Lands Rap Star Soulja Boy Back in Legal Spotlight

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rapper Taken Into Custody During Early Morning Traffic Stop Rapper Soulja Boy was taken into custody early Sunday after Los...

Deadly Crosswalk Hit and Run in West Adams, Victim Hit Multiple Times and Left to Die

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Three Drivers Who Struck and Killed a Pedestrian  Detectives with the Los Angeles Police...

Brentwood Bookstore Welcomes a Hollywood Insider and Secret Service Agent for a Night of Noir

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA Diesel, A Bookstore will host a...