INSIDE
Coachella Promoter in Talks With Santa Monica Over Major Beachfront Event Site smmirror.com
December 19 - December 25, 2025 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
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Renowned Opera Singer Stabbed to Death in Santa Monica by Son, Police Say will be presented to the Los Angeles Sykes, a celebrated case County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, police said. bass-baritone, Sykes, a celebrated bass-baritone, performed at performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie prestigious venues Hall, the Kennedy Center, Deutsche Oper worldwide, including Berlin, Italy’s Arena di Verona, London’s Barbican Center, the New Orleans Jazz the Metropolitan Festival, the Apollo Theater and the Hollywood Bowl. He collaborated with the Opera, Carnegie Los Angeles Philharmonic and other major Hall and the orchestras throughout his career. Detectives believe the attack was an Kennedy Center isolated domestic incident with no ongoing A Grammy-nominated opera singer was fatally stabbed in his Santa Monica home Monday night by his son, who remained at the scene and was taken into custody without incident, authorities said. Jubilant Sykes, 71, was found with critical stab wounds inside a residence in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue around 9:20 p.m., according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Firefighters pronounced him dead at the scene. The suspect, Sykes' 31-year-old son Micah Sykes, was arrested and is expected to be booked on suspicion of homicide. The
threat to the community. The son remained cooperative during the investigation, though the circumstances leading to the confrontation were not immediately clear. Forensic teams processed the scene and recovered a weapon. Police maintained a presence in the area overnight. Anyone with information is asked to contact SMPD Detective Peter Zamfirov at (310) 458-8451 or peter.zamfirov@ santamonica.gov. Anonymous tips can be directed to the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.
Driver Hospitalized After High-Speed Crash Into Santa Monica Building The cause of the crash remains under investigation
A driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries after crashing a vehicle into a twostory mixed-use building late Thursday night, Santa Monica police said. The single-vehicle collision occurred around 11:21 p.m. in the 2600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard at the southwest corner of Princeton Street. Witnesses told officers the vehicle was traveling eastbound at high speed before impact. The adult male driver, the sole occupant, was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The building was unoccupied at the time, and no evacuations were necessary. City Building and Safety inspectors were called to evaluate structural damage. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.