Two teens shot in Waymo vehicle attack
Two juveniles were injured in a shooting incident involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle in Santa Monica, California. The event occurred around 11:40 p.m. near the intersection of 2nd Street and Broadway. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, a suspect on foot fired multiple rounds into the driverless vehicle, striking both passengers. One victim sustained an arm injury, while the other was shot in the torso; both were hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators believe the shooting was a targeted and isolated incident, stemming from a verbal altercation earlier that evening between the victims and the alleged gunman. The suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large.
Waymo issued a statement expressing concern: "Safety is our highest priority at Waymo. We were saddened to learn that just before midnight on Sunday, a pedestrian shot at one of our vehicles in Santa Monica, injuring two riders. Police were on the scene quickly, and we are coordinating with authorities on their ongoing investigation."
This incident adds to the growing tensions between Waymo and Santa Monica residents. Since the company's expansion into the area, locals have expressed frustration over noise pollution from the vehicles' mandatory backup beeping and the lack of prior notification about the establishment of charging stations. Some residents have resorted to obstructing the vehicles' access to charging lots, a tactic dubbed "stacking the Waymos," leading to multiple police interventions.
Santa Monica city officials are exploring outreach to state regulators to address the volume of the mandatory beeps, as current noise levels do not violate local standards.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
