𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞: Agencies Conduct Necropsy on Beached Whale in Santa Monica

On Monday, November 10, 2025, a team of veterinarians and marine biologists carried out a necropsy on a Cuvier’s beaked whale on Santa Monica Beach to help determine condition, cause of death, and any contributing factors. The animal — an adult male weighing more than 4,000 pounds and approximately 20 feet long — had originally washed up alive in Malibu on Friday before later coming ashore in Santa Monica.

The operation involved multiple agencies working side-by-side on the sand, including the California Wildlife Center, Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and Santa Monica entities such as Beaches and Harbors, maintenance crews, police, fire, and lifeguards.

California Wildlife Center Marine Program Manager Heather Henderson said the effort aims to preserve as much of the skeleton as possible for scientific study, noting that findings from rare species like this can offer insight into broader ocean health.

Santa Monica Closeup reports this as part of ongoing documentation of coastal events.

𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗: Remains Wash Ashore on Santa Monica Beach

A deceased whale drew public attention on the sand in Santa Monica on Monday, November 10, 2025, after the animal washed ashore and was later moved farther up the beach by city crews. The carcass — estimated at roughly 20 feet in length — showed clear signs of advanced decomposition. According to observers at the scene, the whale appeared to have been dead for some time before surf and tide carried it in. Crews repositioned the remains away from the waterline to secure the area and prevent the carcass from drifting back into the surf. Members of the public stopped to look, take photographs, and discuss the sighting while keeping a cautious distance. Specialized wildlife personnel are expected to conduct a necropsy — the animal-science equivalent of an autopsy — to help determine species, condition, and any contributing factors in the whale’s death. Santa Monica Closeup reports this as part of ongoing documentation of coastal events.

𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘: Thousands Turn Out for “Run Travis Run” 5K on Foggy Santa Monica Morning

Thousands of runners moved up the center lanes of Ocean Avenue on a foggy Sunday morning, November 9, 2025, as the Run Travis Run 5K brought out a high-energy crowd along Santa Monica’s shoreline. The event — led by drummer Travis Barker — blended wellness culture with Barker’s familiar brand aesthetic, drawing participants across age groups and fitness levels. Many runners wore official race bibs and Run Travis Run apparel as they pushed through the coastal haze toward the finish. Organizers positioned the 5K as more than a timed run, framing it as a lifestyle experience rooted in health, recovery and pop culture. After crossing the line, participants entered a branded post-run activation zone offering sponsor engagements, wellness tie-ins and social-media friendly moments. The high turnout filled Ocean Avenue from curb to curb, underscoring strong community interest in themed fitness events and celebrity-connected runs along the Westside. Santa Monica Closeup documented the scene.

𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗦: Dogtown Car Club Draws Crowds at Venice Pier Block Party

Classic cars line Washington Boulevard at the Venice Pier during the Venice Block Party on Saturday afternoon, November 8, 2025 — turning the waterfront corridor into a nostalgic display of craftsmanship and chrome. Visitors stopped to admire the gleaming vehicles, snapping photos and selfies beside the restored rides that stretched toward the pier entrance.

Dogtown Car Club members stood by their vehicles, fielding questions, sharing restoration stories, and revealing the engines that power their decades-old machines. The relaxed, street-level setup fostered conversation between builders and bystanders alike, blending Venice’s neighborhood energy with Southern California’s long-running car culture.

Local artists, food vendors, and pop-up makers added to the scene, transforming the block into a community gathering that celebrated both creativity and heritage.

Santa Monica Closeup captured the atmosphere of the day as locals and visitors united around one of Venice’s enduring traditions — cars, community, and California sunshine.

𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦: SMPD Announces Passing of Patrol Horse ‘Laredo’ After Lengthy Medical Battle

Santa Monica Police reported the passing of mounted patrol horse “Laredo,” who died Monday, November 2, 2025, following a seven-month battle with rotational laminitis in his left front hoof. He was 18.

Laredo, originally from Wyoming, joined the department’s Mounted Unit in 2017. He served as a steady partner to mounted officers during routine patrols, protests, and high-activity crowd environments. He was also a regular presence at school demonstrations and public-safety outreach events, where his calm demeanor often resonated with children and families.

In February 2019, Laredo drew wider attention during what officers later referred to as a “hoof pursuit,” when he assisted in tracking a stolen-vehicle suspect in Downtown Santa Monica — a short chase that was captured on Los Angeles television news.

Santa Monica Closeup extends condolences to the Santa Monica Police Mounted Unit. Laredo’s years of service in the downtown and beachside corridors left a visible imprint on the city’s public-safety landscape, and his presence was familiar to countless residents, visitors, and officers alike.

Rest in peace.

𝗚𝗨𝗡𝗦 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗡: Police Hold Two at Gunpoint After License-Plate Alert in Santa Monica

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, at around 5 p.m., approximately a dozen Santa Monica Police officers initiated a high-risk traffic stop on Marine Street near Neilsen Way after receiving an automated alert from the city’s camera network regarding a vehicle reportedly wanted for further investigation. Officers conducted the stop with weapons drawn and ordered two occupants out of the vehicle. The individuals were then placed in handcuffs and temporarily detained while officers verified information connected to the alert. According to officers at the scene, the vehicle matched a plate associated with a notice flag — however it was later confirmed to be a rental. After documentation checks and verification, the two individuals were released. Police indicated they would contact the rental company for follow-up regarding the alert originating from the vehicle’s registration. Santa Monica Closeup continues monitoring public safety activity across the Westside.

𝗛𝗜𝗧-𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗥𝗨𝗡 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧: Suspect Extradited to Santa Monica in Fatal Wilshire Boulevard Collision

SANTA MONICA — The Santa Monica Police Department confirmed it has arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal hit-and-run collision that killed two pedestrians and critically injured two others on October 24, 2025, along the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard.

According to SMPD, the Major Accident Response Team led the initial investigation, with detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division later joining due to the severity of the case and the suspect’s alleged efforts to evade capture.

Investigators identified the alleged driver as 38-year-old Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey. Prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office have charged him with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run causing injury, and one count of reckless driving.

Detectives said the vehicle involved in the collision had been rented through an online platform, and that Kirksey traveled out of state in the days following the crash in an apparent attempt to avoid law enforcement. Investigators also determined that the individual who rented the vehicle allegedly arrived at the crash scene after the collision to ask questions about the incident, and later helped the suspect leave California. The extent of that person’s involvement remains under review by the District Attorney.

Search warrants executed during the investigation led detectives to additional electronic records and contact information, which helped determine Kirksey’s location outside the state.

Working with law enforcement partners in the Midwest, SMPD detectives tracked Kirksey to Chicago. With assistance from the Chicago Police Department, he was taken into custody at or near a transit center, where authorities say he appeared to be preparing to leave the area. He has since been extradited to Santa Monica and is now in SMPD custody.

Interim Police Chief Darrick Jacob said this development marks an important milestone in the case, noting that investigators “worked tirelessly to identify and locate those responsible for this senseless act.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman also issued a statement, saying his office remains committed to justice on behalf of the two victims killed — 61-year-old Maura Cohen and 61-year-old Brad Lipshy — as well as the two other victims who remain seriously injured.

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the collision to contact Traffic Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201 ext. 5311 or the SMPD Watch Commander’s Office at (310) 458-8427.

 

𝗗𝗜́𝗔 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗠𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: Aztec Dancers Lead Ceremonial Blessing at Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — The Santa Monica Pier hosted a solemn and culturally significant moment on Saturday as members of the Indigenous community led a Día de los Muertos blessing and procession, marking the start of a two-day program honoring tradition, remembrance, and collective memory. The procession began at the west end of the Pier, where Danza Azteca Kalpoli Atlachinoli dancers — dressed in traditional regalia — offered ceremonial movements before guiding participants toward the historic Merry Go-Round building. The dancers emphasized that this was not a performance, but a ceremony — a sacred act of honoring ancestors and memory — reaffirming the spiritual nature of their presence at the Pier. Inside the Merry Go-Round, visitors moved through an immersive installation featuring marigolds, papel picado, and community-created ofrendas honoring loved ones. Local artistic contributions added personal narratives and reflections connected to Santa Monica’s cultural history. The two-day Día de los Muertos activation at the Pier included free activities and opportunities for public participation, inviting families, residents, and visitors to engage with the holiday’s traditions while reflecting on the meaning of remembrance within the community. Santa Monica Closeup continues documenting public events of cultural significance.

𝗗𝗜́𝗔 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗠𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪: Classic Car Lineup Draws Spectators at Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — Several classic cars — including gleaming Chevy Impalas and vintage Ford models — rolled onto the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday afternoon as part of the 6th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration, turning the boardwalk into a temporary open-air exhibition of Southern California car-culture heritage. Spectators paused along the Pier’s parking lot to photograph polished chrome, custom paint, and low-slung profiles that reflected the cultural traditions long intertwined with Chicano and Mexican-American communities. The classic lineup became one of the most visually striking elements of the two-day program. The Día de los Muertos activation — held November 1 and November 2 — once again invited the public inside the historic Merry Go-Round to view and contribute to ofrendas honoring loved ones. The community-focused installation is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. Saturday’s programming included a traditional Aztec blessing at the west end of the Pier, followed by a parade to the Merry Go-Round building, Ballet Folklorico performances, multiple live music sets, and family-friendly activities throughout the evening. The classic cars remained on display as dancers, families, and visitors moved between performances, blending automotive pride into a cultural celebration rooted in memory, art, and tradition.

𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬: Costumed Crowd Packs Third Street Promenade for First-Ever Family Celebration

SANTA MONICA, CA — Friday, October 31, 2025 — Downtown Santa Monica hosted its first-ever Halloween Block Party on the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade on Friday afternoon, offering a family-friendly lineup of trick-or-treat activities, live performances, and costumed entertainment. Many families arrived dressed in elaborate Halloween outfits — children, adults, and even dogs appeared in full costume — adding to the visual spectacle as attendees moved between participating storefronts between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., where local businesses handed out candy and small giveaways while supplies lasted. Event organizers also offered a mini pumpkin patch where attendees could pick out free pumpkins on a first-come basis, along with pumpkin decorating stations, arts and crafts, face painting, games, photo opportunities, and other themed activity zones. A cappella group The Scarolers — performing in Victorian zombie attire — delivered Halloween songs and parody “scarodies” of familiar tunes, drawing steady crowds throughout the afternoon and into early evening as the block party continued. The gathering marked the first Halloween community block event of this scale to be staged along Third Street Promenade. Organizers described the block party as an all-ages celebration aimed at activating the downtown corridor and drawing families, residents, and tourists into the district for seasonal programming and safe trick-or-treating. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public happenings of local significance in the city’s public spaces.