Following many competency hearings, the suspect in the savage assault of Santa Monica citizen and local business owner John Alle almost a year ago in Palisades Park made his initial court appearance on Tuesday morning.
The 35-year-old Tyler Jordan Keating was carried into the Los Angeles Airport courts with his hands shackled behind his back. He was dressed in a yellow jumpsuit from the LA County jail and looked considerably bigger than he did in his initial mugshot. He was taken into custody for robbery, elder abuse, and criminal violence last year.
After spending almost two months in the Metropolitan State Hospital, Keating—who was homeless at the time of the assault and his subsequent arrest—was found to be mentally fit to stand trial. He is still being held.
The assistant district attorney quickly informed Judge Cathryn F. Broughman and the court that the People oppose a release due to mental health care concerns, ending earlier discussions of a potential release for time served and enrollment in a county diversion program.
On September 19, 2023, Alle was walking along the Palisades Park walkway when Keating viciously attacked her. His brain damage from the attack was potentially fatal, rendering him unconscious. Alle had two head and jaw surgeries as a result, along with shattered teeth and clouded vision. Alle recalled that Keating said, “I don’t see a knife.” to him. I see no mace in sight. I intend to murder you.”
As the leader of the Santa Monica Coalition, an organization devoted to exposing government wrongdoing and reestablishing safety in his hometown of more than 40 years, Alle is a well-known anti-crime champion in the beach community.
“I stand in for someone who was viciously and unjustly attacked. It might have been a child or an old person. There needs to be an end to this since it is occurring throughout Santa Monica. Outside the courtroom, Alle told Westside Current, “People have to be held accountable, and if I can be the story that changes people’s minds about leniency and accountability, it’s worth it.”
Alle continued, “My message for Gascon would be: Please leave LA as soon as you can! With the November election coming up! He has visited Mesa, San Francisco, and this place. I have no idea where he will go next.”
Keating has had several run-ins with the law in Southern California, including Santa Barbara, Ventura County, San Diego, Huntington Beach, and San Clemente. The suspect missed out on two prior diversion programs, per court filings.
The preliminary hearing, which is required for both parties, has been rescheduled for October 30 in light of the lack of pertinent medical data regarding the assault. The deadline for those documents is October 8.