Homeless man charged with attempted murder and assault in attacks on 2 women and a young girl on Santa Monica beach

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (CNS) – A homeless man accused of attacking two women and a teenager on Santa Monica Beach was charged with attempted murder and other counts on Wednesday.

According to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, 31-year-old Jawann Dwyane Garnett is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning at Los Angeles Airport Court.

According to court records, Garnett is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count each of assault with a deadly weapon, assault with intent to rape, kidnapping and willful cruelty to a child.

According to Santa Monica police, Garnett was arrested on the beach in the area of ​​the 1300 block of Ocean Front Walk around 9:45 a.m. Monday.

Santa Monica Police Lt. Erika Aklufi said three victims received medical attention at the scene, including an elderly woman and a 17-year-old who was taken to a hospital with unspecified serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Online news blog Santa Monica Closeup reported that a victim, possibly in her 70s, was grabbed and dragged into the ocean surf, where the attacker attempted to drown her. According to Closeup, a lifeguard intervened until police arrived and arrested the man.

According to prison records, Garnett has been behind bars since his arrest.