Santa Monica Kidnapping Suspect Taken Into Custody After Police Chase Ends in Officer-Involved Shooting in South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - A suspect wanted in connection with a kidnapping investigation in Santa Monica was arrested early Monday morning, May 18, 2026, following a vehicle pursuit that ended with an officer-involved shooting in South Los Angeles, authorities said. No one was injured.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers located the suspect around 3:15 a.m. while investigating an ongoing kidnapping case involving an adult victim that originated in Santa Monica. The suspect fled in a vehicle when approached, prompting a police pursuit that moved from the area into South Los Angeles.

The chase concluded in the 900 block of West 85th Street in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South LA, near the intersection of Hoover Street and 85th Street (specifically reported near a parking structure and addresses such as 937 W. 85th Street). There, an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. No officers or bystanders were injured, and no gunshot wounds were reported. The adult kidnapping victim had already been safely contacted by law enforcement prior to the pursuit.

The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting. The suspect's identity has not been publicly released, and additional details about the underlying kidnapping case remain limited as the investigation continues.

This incident marks another high-profile police pursuit in the Los Angeles area, drawing attention to coordination between Santa Monica PD and regional law enforcement during cross-jurisdictional chases.