Authorities have identified a man suspected of shooting a Santa Monica police officer a few days after he was shot at Waymo driver Res Taxi and allegedly injured two teens.
The suspicious gunman is the temporary David John Hairston II, 31, from the area, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Hairston was taken into custody at Pallisard Park in Santa Monica at 4:20pm Wednesday after a city-wide law enforcement search.
Hairston has been accused of “ambushing” a Santa Monica police officer near the Santa Monica Place outdoor shopping centre. Police said police chased him and involved two teenagers in an autonomous taxi, chasing him for a shooting that took place a few days ago.
Sky5 captured the moment when law enforcement officials detained a Santa Monica man following a search of the suspect’s entire neighborhood in two separate shootings in the city. June 25th, 2025 (KTLA)
The officer bumped into his hand, was hospitalized and although he was told his injuries were serious, it was not life-threatening.
The shooting led to an extensive search of the city before Hairston was finally deployed with the help of civilian hints.
Police say Hairston was the subject of an investigation related to the WAYMO shooting on June 23 after reviewing security footage and interviewing multiple witnesses.
At the time of the shooting, police said the suspect approached the verbal vehicle and fired indiscriminately on the vehicle and its residents after the verbal dispute.
The teens were injured and hospitalized, but were eventually released.
Authorities say two boys in Waymo’s self-driving taxis were shot dead in Santa Monica on Sunday night. (Viewer photos)
After his arrest, Hairston was booked to the Santa Monica Prison where he is in custody on $1 million bail.
He is scheduled for court on Friday, at which point he is expected to be charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, attack with a deadly weapon, attempted murder for Waymo’s shooting, and various illegal gun crimes.
Santa Monica Police thanked nearby law enforcement agencies who assisted in the search for Hairston, as well as dispatchers who issued emergency calls during the tensioned operation.
The injured officer remains stable, officials said.
Source link
