Suspect Shot Homeless Man In The Eye With BB Gun, Authorities Say

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 38-year-old Los Angeles man shot and seriously injured a homeless man with a BB gun on Memorial Day at Palisades Park, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

A Santa Police Department Pubic Services officer was working near the top of the Santa Monica Pier May 31 about 1:38 p.m. when he saw a man waving a gun and yelling in the 1500 Block of Palisades Park.

"Several SMPD officers arrived on scene within minutes and were able to detain the man and retrieve a BB gun dropped by the suspect as the officers approached," police said.

The victim, a 54-year-old man experiencing homelessness, told officers he was standing in the park when the suspect accused the victim of stealing his shoes. The suspect was standing 10 to 15 feet away from the victim when he pulled a BB gun from a bag and shot at the victim several times in the face and upper torso. One of the pellets hit the victim in the right eye, rupturing the globe, police said. The victim also had a pellet lodged in the top of his head and had several small lacerations to the back of his head. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his serious eye injury.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office charged Kyle Leon Castaneda, 38, of Los Angeles, with mayhem, assault, with a deadly weapon, battery with great bodily injury and assault with BB gun.

Anyone with any additional information about this incident or suspect is urged to contact the SMPD Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8451 or the Watch Commander at 310-458- 8427.

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