Santa Monica director dies in apparent murder-suicide tied to Promenade investment
A senior nonprofit executive behind Santa Monica’s downtown efforts was found dead with his wife in Venice, with authorities investigating a possible murder-suicide. The case deepens scrutiny amid downtown decline.
A senior nonprofit executive tied to downtown Santa Monica’s business and placemaking push was found dead alongside his wife in an apparent murder-suicide investigation at their Venice residence, authorities said.
Jeremy Ferguson, who served as Director of Operations for Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., was discovered Tuesday morning with a gunshot wound, according to law enforcement information.. His wife, Mandy Zelinka, was also found dead at the scene with a gunshot injuries, prompting Los Angeles Police Department officers to respond to the home after a call reporting a suicide.
Officers were called to the residence around 11 a.m.. Tuesday.. Investigators say Ferguson had earlier sent a suicide note by email to a friend and included instructions on how to access the property.. That friend later arrived, then contacted police.. Authorities are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide and believe Ferguson shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.. No motive has been publicly released.
Ferguson’s work had placed him close to some of the most visible efforts aimed at stabilizing the downtown experience, including events designed to draw residents and visitors back to the area.. Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.. issued a statement mourning his death, describing him as a longtime champion for the district and praising his daily dedication to placemaking.. The organization said it is processing the news while acknowledging the loss of a core team member.
Beyond day-to-day operations, Ferguson had more than 25 years of experience in public service and transportation, including years in elected office in Oregon.. He served as mayor of Milwaukie, a Portland-area suburb, from 2009 until resigning in February 2015.. At Downtown Santa Monica, he helped oversee high-profile projects, including work linked to the seasonal “Ice at Santa Monica” rink, which expanded capacity and generated significant gross revenue during its 2023–24 season.. He also helped launch Roll at Santa Monica, described as the city’s first outdoor seasonal roller rink, beginning in August 2024.
In recent months, downtown Santa Monica’s challenges have remained a major backdrop for discussions about the Promenade and its surrounding commercial corridors.. A local analysis mapped storefront occupancy along the Third Street Promenade and found a significant share of businesses listed as vacant.. For many people, that kind of vacancy is more than an economic statistic—it changes how a neighborhood feels, from the number of open doors to the sense of momentum after an ordinary visit.
Misryoum has also seen how closures and controversy can reshape the public conversation around downtown.. The shutdown of the Misfit Bar and Restaurant after 15 years inside the Clock Tower building was reported as part of a broader pattern of churn.. Elsewhere, The Britannia pub said it planned to close in the future and be replaced by a Taco Bell Cantina, a change that drew backlash from some residents—another reminder that redevelopment isn’t only about foot traffic, but also about identity and trust.
Safety concerns continue to hover over the area as well.. Santa Monica police reported a prior shooting involving a city officer on the Third Street Promenade in what authorities described as an ambush.. The city has also remained under a Local Emergency on Homelessness for years, now entering its fourth year—conditions that affect daily life for residents, businesses, and visitors, and that influence how investors and event planners assess risk.
For downtown efforts, Ferguson’s death lands at a difficult intersection: organizations are trying to re-energize public spaces while residents remain concerned about conditions and stability.. When a leader with deep operational involvement disappears suddenly, there can be immediate disruption, but also a longer-term reassessment of how programs are staffed, prioritized, and communicated.
Looking ahead, Misryoum expects questions to grow about continuity—how Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.. manages ongoing initiatives and whether its strategies for attracting visitors and supporting storefronts will shift in the wake of this loss.. The case also serves as a stark reminder that the pressures behind public work and community-building are often invisible until something goes terribly wrong, leaving neighbors and coworkers to process grief while the city continues to wrestle with unresolved issues in public space, business health, and safety.