Police arrested a Los Angeles man accused of killing a Vietnam War veteran in a Dec. 22 hit-and-run in Santa Monica, officials announced Friday.
The fatal crash took place at about 6:40 p.m. on Sunday at the intersection of Chelsea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Authorities said a pedestrian, whose name is yet to be released to the public, was crossing Wilshire southbound when they were struck by a white Toyota Rav4 heading eastbound on Wilshire.
Witnesses’ surveillance footage captured the violent crash and trailed the suspect for a short distance as he fled the scene at high speed.
The victim, who police only described as a Vietnam War veteran and Santa Monica resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators gathered the surveillance footage and identified the suspect as 30-year-old Rod Sharif, a resident of Los Angeles.
Police and SWAT members served search and arrest warrants for Sharif and his Santa Monica Canyon home on Dec. 27, according to SMPD.
“Several items of evidence were recovered from the home along with the white Toyota Rav4 that had significant front-end damage that appeared to have been caused during the accident,” police said in a release.
Authorities ultimately arrested and booked Sharif for murder and felony hit-and-run charges.
SMPD encourages anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact Investigator Raleigh at [email protected], Investigator Lewis at [email protected] or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.
