BB gun sparks panic near Santa Monica College

Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD)detains a man after it was reported he was carrying a firearm on the I-10 freeway embankment near 17 Street in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. SMPD temporarily shut down both lanes of traffic on the I-10 freeway before arresting the suspect. After arresting the suspect, the weapon recovered was discovered to be a BB gun.(Kayjel Mairena | The Corsair)

Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) bags evidence from after arresting a man who was reported carrying a firearm on the I-10 freeway embankment near 17 Street in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. SMPD temporarily shut down both lanes of traffic on the I-10 freeway before arresting the suspect. After arresting the suspect, the weapon recovered was discovered to be a BB gun.(Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) reopens the highway after arresting a man who was reported carrying a firearm on the I-10 freeway embankment near 17 Street in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. SMPD temporarily shut down both lanes of traffic on the I-10 freeway before arresting the suspect. After arresting the suspect, the weapon recovered was discovered to be a BB gun.(Kayjel Mairena | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica Police Department arrested a man suspected of carrying an assault weapon-style rifle by the embankment on the I-10 Freeway on Sept. 17, near Santa Monica College.

Within minutes, the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) responded with a great show of force. Multiple squad cars blocked both directions of traffic, and SWAT vehicles circled the area.

The suspect, Jonathan Roby, 36, attempted to flee, but officers apprehended him on the I-10 Freeway beneath the overpass on 17th Street, about half a mile from Santa Monica College (SMC). According to a statement from the SMPD, he ultimately surrendered himself, and police retrieved what was later determined to be an assault weapon-style BB gun.

According to an email from the SMPD public information officer, Lewis Gilmour, officers responded to a report of a man possibly armed with a gun near the I-10 Freeway embankment in the area of 17th Street and Olympic Boulevard, at approximately 4:15 p.m.

SMPD located Roby using the Santa Monica Analytic Real-Time (SMART) Center — a technology hub for investigating crimes that utilizes closed-circuit television cameras, automated license plate readers, and drones. The Los Angeles Police Department also provided air support, the statement said.

Roby was arrested and charged with: pedestrian on freeway, openly displaying an imitation firearm in public and resisting arrest.

SMC responded to the threat by issuing an emergency alert at 4:46 p.m., but the text didn’t indicate what was occurring; instead, the details were sent through email. The college later sent an email deeming it safe at 5:08 p.m., and a text message at 5:34 p.m.

The Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD) wasn’t involved in the police activity, but campus police officers were aware of the situation and on standby. According to Sergeant Chiquita Brown from the SMCPD, campus police didn’t take any action.

After Davon Dean, a former SMC custodian, murdered the custodial operations manager, Felicia Hudson, at the Center for Media and Design, the college community was left shaken. Less than a year later, a possibly armed suspect was seen near campus, bringing fear, panic and a heavy police show of force.