𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗗𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘: Homeless Man Known as ‘Turtle’ Killed at Dog Park — Police Hunt Gunman

Venice, CA – April 3, 2025 — A fatal shooting late Wednesday night near the Westminster Dog Park in Venice has left one man dead and sparked a large-scale investigation and community mourning. The victim, known affectionately by locals as “Turtle,” was shot just after 10:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of Pacific Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers arrived to find the man deceased in the parking lot near the dog park, where a candlelit memorial had appeared by Thursday morning. Friends and witnesses gathered to pay their respects, remembering a man they described as selfless, protective, and deeply loved. One of those friends, Mark — a local resident who lives in a van near the park — spoke with Santa Monica Closeup at the scene. “It’s a very heavy day,” he said. “We lost someone near and dear to us. Turtle was very loved.” Mark stepped aside to allow Cheyenne, identified as Turtle’s girlfriend, to speak about the man she had known for nearly a decade. Cheyenne, visibly shaken and emotional, described Turtle as her protector, best friend, and a constant source of laughter and comfort. “He died protecting me and our best friend, our home,” she said. “He was the most stand-up man you could ever meet.” She recounted the horrifying moments after the shooting. “I asked him to wake up for me... anything, tell me you’re okay,” she said. “His eyelids were blue and black... I wiped what I now realize was brain matter from his face.” Cheyenne described being in a state of shock, surrounded by blood, pleading with Turtle as he struggled to speak in his final moments. “He was gurgling,” she recalled. “Then someone said, ‘He’s dead.’ I was screaming. I don’t even remember everything.” The two had just recently made their relationship official. “He made me his girlfriend a few days ago,” she said. “He told someone I was his wife.” Through tears, she called him “the captain” of their community. “We’re pirates,” she added. “We share, we take care of each other. He stood up for us. That’s who he was.” Witnesses said the shooting occurred after Turtle stepped in to intervene during a heated dispute between a couple. He was reportedly trying to calm the situation when he was shot. The suspect fled the scene. A nearby resident, who lives in a building next to the dog park, described a dramatic overnight police response. “Helicopter lights were shining into my house,” the neighbor said. “Officers were yelling, ‘Stop, put your hands up.’ It felt like live action was happening right outside.” Police reportedly focused their attention on a neighboring apartment unit, repeatedly instructing anyone inside to exit. “Eventually they went in, but no one came out,” the witness said. LAPD maintained a perimeter until late Thursday morning, with helicopters overhead for hours. Detectives believe the suspect may reside in the area, but no arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon. The relationship between the victim and the alleged shooter remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.