By Jorge Casuso

April 21, 2025 -- A man and a woman were stabbed on the beach south of the Pier in the early morning hours Saturday, and one of the two suspects has been arrested for attempted murder, according to police.

Santa Monica police responded at around 2:26 a.m. to a radio call regarding a reported stabbing in the 1700 block of Ocean Front Walk.

"Officers arrived on scene within two minutes and discovered two individuals who had been stabbed," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesperson.

The male victim "sustained multiple stab wounds to the upper torso," while the female suspect also sustained stab wounds, Gilmour said.

SMPD personnel provided medical aid to the victim until the Fire Department arrived and paramedics continued medical treatment, then transported him to a local area hospital.

On Monday evening, the victim was in critical, but stable, condition, Gilmour said. The female victim was also transported to the hospital for treatment and released.

Witnesses reported that suspects fled the scene on foot, traveling southbound after the stabbing, Gilmour said.

Ivan Angel Plancarte, 20, from San Gabriel, California, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with attempted murder.

The other suspect, who remains at large, is described as a male Hispanic with a "thin build," wearing a gray sweater and a blue bandana or face mask.

The stabbings come less than two weeks after the City Council voted to explore ways to make the beach safer late at night in the wake of several deaths but stopped short of backing a curfew ("Santa Monica to Explore Options to Beach Curfew," April 9, 2025).

The investigation into Saturday's stabbings is ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Det. Peter Zamfirov (Peter.Zamfirov@santamoncia.gov) at (310)458-8398, Det. Sgt. Alfonso Lozano (Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov) at (310)458-8774, or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.