Search

By Lookout Staff

May 22 -- A man who was assaulted in the Pico Neighborhood this month has died, making him Santa Monica’s third homicide victim in two months.

Santa Monica resident Preston Brumfield succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and was pronounced dead on Friday, police said.

The Los Angeles County Coroner has declared the death to be a homicide, said Sgt. Renaldi Thurston, the Police Department spokesman. There is no suspect information at this time.

Brumfield was assaulted at 11:30 p.m. on May 11 on the 1900 block of 20th Street, one of the most crime-prone areas in the city and the site of several gang-related shootings in the past five years.

He was found by police lying unconscious on the sidewalk and was transported to a local hospital, Thurston said.

The killing comes two months after two victims were found dead in their Santa Monica apartments three days apart. Police determined the homicides were not related.

The first took place on March 16, when police found the body of Juliana Redding, a 21-year-old aspiring model, in her Santa Monica apartment on the 1500 block of Centinela Avenue. She was the victim of an assault. (“21-year-old Woman Found Dead After Apparent Assault,” March 18)

On March 19, police found Alexander Merman, a 35-year-old artist, dead in his condominium on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, the victim of blunt force trauma. (“Man Found Dead in Montana Avenue Apartment,” March 20)

In both cases, parents identified the police after failing to contact their children.

Anyone with additional information on the homicides should call Santa Monica Police Department Detectives at 310.458.8451 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or the Watch Commander at 310.458.8427 at any time.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).