Officers arrested a Santa Monica man Saturday morning on suspicion of stabbing his elderly mother to death, police said.
Santa Monica police said they received a call around 5:30 a.m. from a man who said his older brother, Vernon Jeremiah Harris, 43, had stabbed their mother multiple times.
Police responded and found the two brothers in an apartment in the 1100 block of 12th Street.
When officers removed the brothers, they found their mother suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. She succumbed to her injuries while being transported to a local hospital, officials said.
Police said Harris has no criminal history and lives at the scene with his mother and two older brothers.
Authorities said Harris may have physical and developmental disabilities, and that her younger brother, who reported the stabbing, was caring for her and her mother.
The younger brother woke up after hearing his mother’s cries for help and went into the bedroom to find Harris standing over his mother holding a knife.
Police said the third brother, who was at work during the incident, arrived at the scene during the investigation and gave statements to detectives along with Harris’ other brother.
Detectives discovered the weapon used in the attack while executing a search warrant, and forensic scientists responded and processed the scene.
Police said Harris was arrested and transported to the Los Angeles County Jail to await his first court appearance.
The Santa Monica Police Department urges anyone with information regarding this case or the suspect to contact Detective Jauregui at martin.jauregui@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Lozano at alfonso.lozano@santamonica.gov, or the Supervisory Commander Desk. We encourage you to contact us (24 hours a day, 310). 458-8427.
