Terrorism Allegations Raised in Hit and Run Death Near Santa Monica City Hall

3/21: Santa Monica suffered yet another fatality automobile accident Tuesday afternoon at 4:20, this time a few yards away from the headquarters of the Santa Monica Police Department.

A sedan hit a male pedestrian in the parking lot between The Santa Monica courthouse and the Rand corporation. A 40-year-old man who had just paid a traffic fine, was paying for parking at an electronic kiosk. Allegedly, Cal State University Los Angeles Student Absadi Kidane drove a vehicle at a high rate of speed. He struck and killed the man who was standing next to the kiosk, then hit a parked car on Main Street and then tried to run away from police and was subsequently arrested.

Several witnesses described the suspect vehicle as entering the parking lot from 4th Street and proceed westbound at a high rate of speed. The vehicle continued through a parking gate and struck a pedestrian standing at a pay parking booth in the lot. The vehicle continued across Main Street and struck a parked vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle and fled the location.

Officers gave chase and arrested Kidane in the 300 block of Pico Blvd. He was taken into custody following a struggle with officers. Kidane is a US Resident born in LA of Ethiopian parents.

The incident is not being investigated as a hate crime or an act of terrorism, because there is no evidence of such, say the Santa Monica Police. However, investigators said at the arraignment that notes in Arabic had been found in Kidane's house, and that his passport revealed he had recently been to two Arab countries. His defense attorney ridiculed the allegations attributing them to his mothers employment as an American airline stewardess. But the judge raised Kidanes bail to $10 million.

Officers found the victim on Main Street, lying unresponsive with critical injuries. He was treated at the scene by Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics for his injuries. The victim was transported to UCLA Santa Monica hospital for treatment, but died of his injuries.

Absadi Kidane was arraigned Thursday afternoon at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse. Kidane has been charged with the following list of violations: 187(a) PC–Homicide;192(c)(1) PC-Vehicular Manslaughter; 191.5 PC-Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated; 23153(a) CVC –Felony Driving Under the Influence; 20001(a) CVC-Felony Hit and Run; and 69 PC- Forcibly Resisting Arrest. Kidane remains at LA County Jail with a bail of $2 million.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area near the time of the collision. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigator Olson at (310) 458-8954; Sergeant J. Cortez (310) 458-8713 or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.