PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — A convicted felon from Washington state was in custody Monday for allegedly pointing a loaded firearm at people visiting the Santa Monica Pier.
Officials said that Tony Andre Andrade, 33, pleaded not guilty July 18 to attempted murder, assault with a firearm, evading police, carrying a loaded firearm and receiving stolen property. He was being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility on a bail of $1.23 million.
Santa Monica Police Lt. Jay Trisler said Andrade refused to stop for officers on July 16 just shortly after 1 a.m. after police received a report of a man matching his description pointing a gun at random people. He led police on a car chase along Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, eventually crashing near the Ventura County border. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Andrade was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Police received a report of a man pointing a handgun at people along the 200 block of the pier. One witness told officers that Andrade pointed the gun and pulled the trigger at least twice, but the gun did not fire. He then fled to a vehicle and left. Officers located the car near Lincoln and Pico boulevards and tried to stop Andrade. That’s when the pursuit began.
A spokesperson with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Andrade has four prior felony convictions out of Adams and Spokane, Wash. for possession of a firearm, theft and possession of stolen property.
His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 1.