Shooting near Santa Monica mall leaves officer injured

UPDATE: The suspect has been arrested. He is also believed to be connected to a separate shooting that wounded two people in a Waymo autonomous taxi on Sunday, according to officials. The injured officer is reported to be in stable condition.

A shooting near a shopping mall in Santa Monica, California has left one police officer injured, according to authorities.

“Please avoid the area near Santa Monica Place,” the Santa Monica Police Department said in a social media post around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. “Officers are responding to an active situation.” Approximately an hour later, police confirmed that the scene had been cleared.

The incident was reported near Parking Structure 7, according to local media outlet The Santa Monica Observer. The structure is adjacent to the Santa Monica Place outdoor shopping mall and just a few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica police confirmed that an officer was injured during the incident and transported to a local hospital for treatment. The officer’s condition has not yet been disclosed.

“The suspect remains at large, and a coordinated search is underway,” police said. He is described as a Black male in his 30s, last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and black pants. Authorities consider him armed and dangerous and urge the public not to approach him.

Footage from the scene showed a large number of police vehicles and officers in the area. Portions of Colorado Avenue and Broadway westbound at 5th Street were closed as officers searched for the suspect. A police helicopter was also seen circling overhead.