Santa Monica police officer hospitalized after being stabbed outside the station; Suspect shot

A Santa Monica police officer was hospitalized after being stabbed outside police headquarters Saturday.

According to Police Chief Ramon Batista, the incident occurred shortly after 5:20 p.m. in front of the Santa Monica Police Department, located in the 300 block of Olympic Drive.

According to the department, the officer was outside the station gathering information about an unrelated call when the suspect, identified only as a man in his 30s, confronted him.

“He intervened in the conversation when the officer was trying to contact this party who was simply trying to pass on information about an unrelated case,” Batista said during a news conference Saturday.

That's when the suspect produced a large knife and attacked the officer “unexpectedly and without warning,” Batista said.

“The officer retreated, backed away, drew his weapon and walked around the corner of the building. The suspect followed him and continued the attack, and in that area … there was a shooting involving an officer involved,” Batista said. “The officer who was attacked is the one who fired his weapon.”

Other SMPD officers on scene attempted to perform life-saving measures on the man until Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene. He was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived.

The officer was taken by other officers to a nearby hospital to be treated for multiple stab wounds. Police say he is stable and expected to survive.

“I hope he survives these injuries,” Batista said during the press conference.

The officer involved in the attack has not yet been identified, but is believed to be around 35 years old.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident.

Anyone who knows more is asked to contact SMPD at (310) 458-8427.