Death in Venice


No leads in Ocean Front Walk murder

Last month the Beachhead reported on the Feb. 12 murder of Verika “Tiny Dancer” Popovich at Avenue 19 and Speedway.


Since then there have been no leads in the case, according to LAPD Detective Mike DePasquale. He said the police have been unable to find anyone who even heard the attack on Popovich. Anyone with information on the brutal murder can call him at 310-482-6369.

DePasquale said that rumors of other murders in the vicinity were just that, rumors. He said the police have no knowledge of any other murders in the beach area in recent months.

Carjacking suspect had been shot 11 times

New information has been obtained by the Beachhead in the police shooting of Venice resident Jeffery Lynn Smith, Jr. The Coroner’s report obtained by the Beachhead reports that Smith had been shot 11 times by police at the corner of Santa Clara Avenue and Electric Avenue around 5 am. on Feb. 9. The gunfire woke much of Venice. A number of those who heard the gunfire said from 20 to 50 shots could be distinguished.

Santa Monica Police Detective Richard Lewis is quoted in the Coroner’s Report as stating that a carjacking had taken place at 10th Court and Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica. He said the car was seen going southbound on Venice Blvd. (he probably meant Lincoln Blvd.) and was located at 7th Street and California Ave. in Venice.

Lewis says the suspect got out of the car and fired a shotgun at police, who returned fire. The suspect then returned to the car and drove down Santa Clara Avenue where he hit a building at the corner of Electric. It is unknown whether he had been shot by then.

Again, according to Lewis, the suspect got out of the car and fired a round at officers, who returned fire. Within three minutes backup officers - presumably LAPD - arrived at the scene. The Coroner’s report states, “They verbally order (sic) him out of the vehicle and could hear him moaning from inside the vehicle as he is now lying on the front seats. At approximately 0508 hour they observe the shotgun emerge again and placed on the driver’s side door pointed at Officers. At that point all seven Officers fired numerous rounds using 3 rifles and four 45-caliber handguns...” Paramedics declared the suspect, Smith, dead at 5:20 a.m.

See last month’s Beachhead for an additional statement by police and eulogies for Jeffery Lynn Smith.

–information for these two reports was compiled by Jim Smith

Posted: Sat - April 1, 2006 at 02:19 PM          

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