Santa Monica, CA — A suspected attempted robbery at Sole & Laces, a boutique sneaker store on the 1300 block of 3rd Street Promenade, ended in a fatal shooting on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., intensifying concerns about retail crime and public safety in Santa Monica’s premier shopping district. The incident, described by authorities as a targeted act among known associates, left one suspect dead and another in custody, while exposing deeper vulnerabilities in the area’s security.
Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officers responded swiftly to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon at 1331 3rd Street Promenade. According to the preliminary investigation, the store owner had arranged a private, after-hours sale with a known associate, 41-year-old Karen Melikyan of Los Angeles. During the transaction, a second individual, allegedly conspiring with Melikyan, entered through the store’s rear entrance, sprayed the owner with a chemical irritant, and attempted to rob the premises. The owner, legally armed, fired at the intruder in self-defense, striking him. The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Melikyan was detained at the scene and faces charges of homicide, armed robbery, and conspiracy under California’s felony murder rule, which holds accomplices liable for deaths occurring during violent felonies. SMPD detectives emphasized that the incident was not random, with no ongoing threat to the public, but the case remains under active investigation.
The shooting has cast a spotlight on the escalating challenges faced by Promenade businesses. On Monday, John Alle, the property owner and a vocal advocate for revitalizing the area, toured the store with Santa Monica Closeup, pointing out bloodstains on the concrete and forensic tape remnants. “This alley has become one of the most dangerous since Parking Garage 3 access was removed,” Alle said, noting the rear entrance’s vulnerability, a common issue for Promenade tenants. He described the robbery suspect storming in masked and wielding mace, with the owner’s defensive shot, aimed at the leg, tragically hitting the suspect’s backside.
Alle painted a grim picture of the Promenade’s decline, citing rampant theft, break-ins, and safety concerns driving away staff and customers. “My tenant, who fled San Francisco’s crime wave, sleeps in the store to protect thousands in merchandise,” he said. “Shoes are locked up, clothing is wired down, and staff refuse to work past sundown.” Alle reported weekly walk-in thefts, unreported crimes to avoid insurance spikes, and an environment plagued by homelessness, harassment, and sanitation issues. “Staff fear walking to their cars after dark,” he added, calling for urgent action from city officials and police.
As Santa Monica grapples with this tragedy, the Promenade’s future hangs in the balance. SMPD urges anyone with information to contact Detective Martin Jauregui at (310) 458-4852, Detective Sergeant Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8774, or the SMPD Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427, or email Martin.Jauregui@santamonica.gov or Chad.Goodwin@santamonica.gov.
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