Santa Monica Shooting Update — A fatal officer-involved shooting occurred Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Palisades Park near the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue after an individual armed with a knife allegedly charged toward Santa Monica police officers. Authorities said the individual was shot and later died at a hospital. The officer involved was not injured.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers were at Palisades Park investigating a reported domestic violence incident when the shooting occurred. Officers were reportedly interviewing witnesses when an unrelated individual armed with a knife approached and allegedly charged toward them.
Police said an officer discharged a firearm, striking the individual. Emergency personnel from the Santa Monica Fire Department responded and provided medical treatment at the scene before the injured person was transported to a hospital.
The individual later died at the hospital, according to the information released by authorities. Police have not publicly identified the person killed and have not released their age or gender.
The incident occurred near the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park, a heavily visited public area overlooking Santa Monica Bay. Authorities asked members of the public to avoid the immediate area while investigators processed the scene and conducted their preliminary investigation.
Based on the available information, authorities have not characterized the incident as a mass shooting. Police have instead described it as an officer-involved shooting involving an individual who was allegedly armed with a knife and charged toward officers. The person was reportedly not connected to the original domestic violence investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the sequence of events leading up to the shooting. Investigators are expected to examine evidence from the scene and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Additional details, including the identity of the deceased individual and further information about the involved officer, may be released as the investigation continues. Residents and visitors in the area are advised to follow instructions from police and emergency personnel and avoid the immediate investigation area.
