Teen shot after leaving memorial car wash event
SANTA MONICA – On December 8th, 32-year-old Colton resident Waiverly Thomas posted this message on his Facebook: “Thank you Jesus[.] IM [sic] OFF TODAY, but I got 2 games to.coach [sic] and a car wash to go to help with …..#TEAMCOACHWAVE.” At 4:25 PM, he told a friend in the status update comments section that he was “chilling” until he could start coaching at 8:00 PM. By approximately 6:00 PM, Thomas would be arrested for attempted murder by the Santa Monica Police Department.
It is unclear why Waiverly Thomas chased the young woman and shot her as she left the car wash in a car that stopped and picked her up
It was around 5:00 PM that Santa Monica Police responded to the 1800 block of Pico Boulevard where they found an 18-year-old African-American female suffering from gunshot wounds at the corner of Pico and Lincoln Boulevard. The victim was treated on scene before being transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
According to a Santa Monica Police Department press release, the victim had been attending a memorial car wash on Pico Boulevard and 19th Avenue when she unexpectedly ran from the parking lot and into the street. After the young woman entered a westbound vehicle that she had flagged down, Thomas ran up to the car and shot into the vehicle several times with a handgun, striking her. The uninjured driver was able to drive the vehicle away before calling 911 on the corner of Pico and Lincoln.
An hour later, Thomas was located after attempting to drive through a perimeter the police had set-up Delaware Avenue and 16th Street. Upon searching Thomas’ vehicle, police found the gun believed to be used in the shooting. According to Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis, Thomas, who had a prior criminal record, was arrested for attempted homicide, shooting an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Daniel Larios at (310) 458-8937 or Sergeant Ira Rutan at (310) 458-8959 or, the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at (310) 458-8495.
Read More:
Santa Monica Mirror: Santa Monica Police Identify Pico Boulevard Shooting Suspect
CBS Los Angeles: Police Name Man Who Allegedly Shot Woman Attending Memorial Car Wash
Santa Monica Patch: Alleged Pico Shooter, a Felon, Held in $3 Million Bail
