Latest news with #SantaMonica
CBS News
13 hours ago
- CBS News
Suspect in shooting of Santa Monica officer and two teens charged with attempted murder
The 31-year-old man arrested for allegedly shooting a Santa Monica police officer and two teens in a Waymo this week now faces three counts of attempted murder. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said suspect David John Hairston also faces four more charges for the shootings. If Hairston is convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of 104 years to life in state prison. The first shooting happened on June 22 at roughly 11:30 p.m. in Santa Monica. Prosecutors said Hairston ran up to the self-driving Waymo when it stopped at the intersection of 2nd Street and Broadway. He allegedly shot both of the teens and ran away. The two victims, 14 and 16 years old, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Three days later, Officer Lucas Palmeira from the Santa Monica Police Department recognized Hairston from a wanted bulletin connected to the June 22 shooting and approached the suspect. Hairston allegedly opened fire when Palmeira moved closer and ran away. A bullet pierced through Palmeria's hand. The suspect who allegedly opened fire on a Santa Monica police officer is also accused of wounding two juveniles Sunday night. SMPD "Our hearts go out to Officer Palmeira and the two young victims and their families who were senselessly targeted during these attacks," Hochman said. "Violence in our community — especially against our children and those who risk their lives to protect us — is unacceptable. We are committed to holding the suspect accountable." Police from multiple departments, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, spent hours searching for Hairston until they received a tip that he was in Palisades Park. "I want to thank all of our residents who called us and gave us information about the whereabouts of this suspect," Chief Ramon Batista said on Wednesday. "They were ultimately our best partners in determining where he was." The court ordered a competency hearing after Hairston's attorney raised concerns about his state of mind during his arraignment on Friday. The competency hearing was scheduled for July 14. Hairston will remain in custody in lieu of a $4 million bail.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested after officer pursuing suspect 'ambushed' at Santa Monica mall
June 25 (UPI) -- Police in Santa Monica, Calif., captured a suspect wanted in shooting two teens in a vehicle on Sunday and an officer injured while pursuing him at an outdoor shopping mall in Southern California on Wednesday. Police said the unnamed man was arrested about three hours after the incident at the shopping mall. UPDATE: SUSPECT IN CUSTODY The suspect involved in today's shooting of an SMPD officer has been arrested. He has also been confirmed as the individual wanted in connection with the recent Waymo vehicle shooting. We're grateful for the support of our regional partners and the... Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) June 26, 2025 The officer recognized the alleged shooter from a wanted bulletin for a shooting incident involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle, police said. "After identifying himself as a police officer, a short foot pursuit ensued, where the officer was ambushed," Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista said at a news briefing about the incident that occurred at 1:10 p.m. PDT. "The suspect fired multiple rounds at the officer and fled the area on foot." Fellow officers "quickly rendered aid" and he was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police released photos of the suspect in his 30s, who was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and black pants. They asked anyone who recognizes or sees him to call 911. ✅ Santa Monica Place has been cleared. The suspect remains at large. See photo below. Description: Male, Black, Approximate age: 30s Wearing a dark-colored jacket and black pants If you recognize this individual or see someone matching this description, do not... Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) June 25, 2025 They received a tip from someone who reported seeing a person matching the suspect's description. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was arrested at 4:20 p.m. at Palisades Park about 6 miles from the mall, the chief said. Officers recovered the handgun near the suspect, according to Batista. The police chief said he has been linked to both incidents. "We are almost 100% accurate in believing that it's the same individual," Batista said. The teens suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, which occurred after an argument, police said. The suspect was considered armed and dangerous. "We are fortunate that within a short amount of time, we were able to apprehend the individual and he is no longer on the street," Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete said at the briefing. The 3rd Street Promenade, which is near the pier, was cleared around 3 p.m. The mall is 16 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The public was being asked to avoid the area during the ongoing investigation. The shopping, dining and entertainment complex, which is three blocks in the downtown area, opened in 1965. It includes the upscale Santa Monica Place, which is home to more than 80 retailers, according to the city's visitation website.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film
Denis Villeneuve arrives at the 30th Critics Choice Awards on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) NEW YORK — Denis Villeneuve is going from 'Dune' to Bond. AmazonMGM announced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. The untitled film will be the first since the studio took creative reins of the storied film franchise after decades of control by the Broccoli family. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had maintained that before the next Bond is cast, they would develop a screenplay and find a director first. Now, they have one of the most respected blockbuster makers in Hollywood who's coming off a pair of widely acclaimed 'Dune' films. In a statement, Villeneuve said he grew up watching Bond movies. 'I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory,' said Villeneuve. 'I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.' Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Santa Monica Police officer injured during shooting, suspect remains at large
A police officer in Santa Monica was taken to a local hospital after a reported shooting, according to authorities. The Santa Monica Police Department confirmed around 1:45 p.m. that it was "actively managing" an ongoing incident near Santa Monica Place, located near 4th Street and Colorado Avenue. An officer with the department was injured during the incident. Their condition was not immediately revealed, and it's not clear what caused the officer's injuries. The suspected shooter remains at large, SMPD said. The department asked the public to avoid the area near Santa Monica Place while the search continues. No additional details were immediately made available.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Customer Service Is A Human Sport—Even In The Age Of AI
Jim Stevenson, CEO and Founder of Bletchley Group. Customer service has never been more scrutinized or more automated. Chatbots field our queries, apps track our orders, and self‑service portals promise instant resolutions. Yet, for all the technological wizardry, one timeless truth endures: at the heart of every customer service request or purchase journey is a human looking for an efficient and memorable experience. I was reminded of this on an otherwise ordinary Saturday evening at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica. The pasta was sublime, the service attentive but not intrusive, and having debated and ultimately rejected the merits of tiramisu versus panna cotta, the bill arrived at an appropriately relaxed pace. So far, a great service. Then, ten minutes after arriving home, my friend realized her grandmother's heirloom ring, handed down through three generations, was missing. Calling the restaurant while realizing it was probably closed, we expected the standard answer, 'Pop back tomorrow, we'll have a look.' Instead, we were invited straight back, arriving to discover at least three members of staff had abandoned their cleaning and till-counting duties and were searching in the restrooms, around the table and in the bins. They were prepared with a box of disposable gloves so we could join the search. We left ring‑less but raving that this restaurant has earned two lifelong advocates thanks to the staff's genuine concern and willingness to dive into the search (and trash) to look for a customer's ring. Consider this experience while you digest a colder statistic: 78 per cent of UK customers now finish a service interaction frustrated—the highest level in a decade. Worldwide, more than half of consumers will defect after a single bad experience, and PwC reckons nearly a third will dump even a favorite brand after just one slip‑up. We have never had more technology promising to cosset customers, yet most of us now dread contacting 'support'. That contradiction is large enough to drive a chatbot through. Automation, when misapplied, simply scales indifference. Swedish fintech Klarna trumpeted in 2024 that its AI assistant had absorbed the workload of 700 human agents; by May 2025, the CEO was rehiring people because service quality had 'dropped' and customers still 'need to speak to a real person'. Yet technology is not the villain; misapplied technology is. Chewy, the online pet‑supply retailer, refunded a shopper after her dog died, advised her to donate the food, and then sent flowers signed by the agent who took the call. One compassionate gesture, amplified by social media, became brand equity that money cannot buy. Scaling the genuine compassion of sending flowers to a dog owner becomes cynical commercialism if not handled correctly, with authenticity and understanding. Whether searching dustbins or sending bouquets, the same five human values do the heavy lifting: • Empathy: Feel the customer's pain before you fix the process. • Ownership: The first person, or bot, who spots a problem shepherds it to resolution. • Speed: Responses must be quick and conclusive; velocity must lead to resolution. • Visibility: Show the graft; a real‑time progress bar or progress emails beats silent purgatory. • Culture: Celebrate staff who exceed the script; folklore outpaces policy binders. You cannot code kindness, but you can design for it. Map emotional journeys, not just click paths. Let AI clear the low‑stakes questions but provide a 'Human, please.' button inside two taps for the high‑stakes ones. Consult your customer service team, as they have daily interactions with your customers and are familiar with the frustrations and expectations. Replace unhelpful generic updates 'Your request is being processed.' with helpful and personable ones like 'Hang tight—we're on it and will update you within ten minutes.' Above all, broadcast hero stories internally; behavior follows narrative. Build a culture of excellence in customer service that permeates the DNA of your company. Employees will want to work for you, and customers will want to buy from you. Here is the paradox: 80% of companies believed they delivered a "superior experience" to their customers, but their customers do not agree. The tools we built to get closer to customers can push them further away unless they amplify, rather than anesthetize, our humanity. Before rubber‑stamping the next chatbot launch, ask a straightforward question: Would this experience make a customer believe we would dig through the bins for them at eleven o'clock on a Saturday night? If the answer is 'probably not', no algorithmic cleverness will keep them loyal. Design your online and offline experiences with the same core values and excellence in mind to build customer loyalty and brand equity. Excellent customer service is, and always will be, a human sport. Technology is just the kit. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
