Knife attack suspect robbed a Target store in Santa Monica before attack, police say

Authorities have identified the suspect in a fatal attack on a Santa Monica police officer that occurred outside the department’s headquarters

Authorities have identified the suspect in a fatal attack on a Santa Monica police officer that occurred outside the department’s headquarters Saturday night. The suspect, Deyaa Abdelhadi Halaibeh, 28, of upstate New York, was killed at the scene after stabbing an officer multiple times.

The incident occurred on October 5, 2024 at around 5:21 p.m. when Halaibeh, armed with an 8-inch chef’s knife, attacked the officer outside the police station. The officer, whose name was not released, shot Halaibeh in self-defense, a Santa Monica Police Department statement said. Halaibeh was pronounced dead at the scene.

Before the attack, Halaibeh was suspected of committing a robbery at a nearby Target store at 420 Broadway. Store security reported that around 5:16 p.m., a man pushed an employee to the ground and stole a box of kitchen knives. The suspect fled the store, but a knife was later found missing from the box – the same knife believed to have been used in the attack on the officer.

Halaibeh had no known criminal history in California and no prior contacts with the Santa Monica Police Department. His residential status at the time of the incident remains unclear.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about Halaibeh or the incident to contact Detective Peter Zamfirov at [email protected], Detective Sergeant Alfonso Lozano at [email protected] or the watch commander at 310-458-8427 contact 24 hours a day.

Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.