Three arrested following ambush shooting in Culver City

Three people were arrested in Culver City on Aug. 24 in connection with an ambush style shooting 

Police were informed of the incident at about 2:40 a.m. that morning, when a caller informed dispatch that they heard gunshots, and saw a man drop a handgun around the intersection of Culver Boulevard and Mentone Avenue.

Soon after the call, a dark colored sedan drove and picked the man up, promptly fleeing the scene after.

Officers found the weapon upon arriving at the scene, as well as a significant amount of blood in the area. The officers on the scene were soon notified by dispatch that a gunshot victim had recently been transported to a local hospital emergency room.

The gunshot victim was 18-year old Jermaine Beard, who was taken into custody following his recovery and release from the hospital, held on the charge of attempted murder. On Aug. 26, charges were formally filed against Beard for attempted murder by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and his bail was set at $1.2 million. His next court date is Sept. 13.

Police were also able to identify two suspects in the van as Markel Parker, 23, and Destiny Sandoval, 22. The two were seen later that day in a nearby business by Culver City detectives, and detectives discovered that one of the suspects was also the victim of the shooting by Beard. 

The following week, on Aug. 31, Parker and Sandoval were arrested at approximately 8:30 a.m. at their residence in Los Angeles.

Parker was charged with attempted murder, while Sandoval faces accessory charges.