Armed man apprehended 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.  

According to an email from the Santa Monica Police Department’s (SMPD) public information officer Lewis Gilmour, SMPD responded to a report of a man possibly armed with a gun near the I-10 Freeway embankment in the area of 17 Street and Olympic Boulevard, at approximately 4:15. 

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

The suspect attempted to flee, but officers apprehended him on the I-10 Freeway beneath the overpass on 17 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. 

SMPD used the Santa Monica Analytic Real-Time (SMART) Center resources, a technology hub that utilizes closed-circuit television cameras, automated license plate readers, and drones to investigate crimes, also using air support from the Los Angeles Police Department to locate the suspect, the statement said. 

At 4:46 p.m. SMC issued an emergency alert, but the text didn’t indicate what was occurring; the details were sent through email. 

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. 

SMC experienced gun violence in Oct. 2024 after Davon Dean, a former SMC custodian, murdered his manager, Felicia Hudson, at the Center for Media and Design. It's been less than a year, and the campus once again receives news to be vigilant for a possible armed suspect.