An 18-year-old named Jaysawn Williams was arrested after a shooting at Santa Monica Pier on Sunday night, March 16, 2026, around 9 p.m. The incident resulted in two people being injured, including the suspected shooter.
The shooting occurred during a large fight on the pier, which witnesses described as chaotic. One victim sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to a local hospital, while the second injured person suffered a graze wound and was later identified as the shooter, Jaysawn Williams.
Williams was booked on charges of assault with a firearm and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. The rapid response from Santa Monica police, who were already patrolling the area, helped to control the situation quickly.
Witnesses reported hearing between four to six gunshots, followed by panic and chaos as people began to flee. Jenna Hannaford, a witness, described the scene, stating, “A lot of screaming. Everybody was screaming and running. It was crazy.” Another witness, Dennee, noted, “It appeared that the kids ran, the guy who shot, and then the police began to take control.”
The pier has since reopened, and normal operations have resumed. However, the cause of the fight that led to the shooting is still under investigation, and details remain unconfirmed. The incident occurred as tourists began flocking to the beach for the annual spring break season.
Jenna Hannaford expressed her disappointment, saying, “We were here to enjoy our night, and this kind of cut it short.” Another witness, Dave Jonsson, remarked, “It was crazy. Watch this.”
The investigation lasted several hours and involved reviewing surveillance video to gather more information about the events leading up to the shooting.
