Hermosa Beach, CA: Man arrested after allegedly killing girlfriend

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve, resident David Abbott allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, Samantha Sproson, in her Hermosa Beach apartment.

According to Hermosa Beach Police Detective Mick Gaglia, officers responded to reports of an argument followed by the sound of a gunshot in the 700 block of Manhattan Avenue at approximately 5 a.m. on Dec. 31.

Police arrived on the scene and confronted Abbott, 32, who was in front of the location, and immediately detained him.

Then officers entered the apartment and found Sproson, 38, killed from a bullet wound.

“Officers conducted a welfare check inside the apartment where the incident occurred and found a female victim deceased,” said Police Chief Greg Savelli, declining to further discuss the case.

“Because of the ongoing investigation, we know more than we can say,” Savelli said.

Abbott was arraigned Jan. 4 at the Torrance Superior Courthouse and is being charged with “murder, with a firearm enhancement,” which creates a longer jail sentence, Gaglia said.

The victim’s mother, Natalie Sproson, who lives in Rancho Palos Verdes, said the family is still in shock and she doesn’t know much about the investigation.

“We haven’t even gotten her body yet. We just know she was shot. We don’t even know what happened to her,” Natalie Sproson said.

Then she quickly declined to discuss anything more about her daughter, but said Sproson was loved by everyone.

“She was a very good person. She was a caring person. Everybody loved her,” she said.

Sproson worked with the El Camino Small Business Development Center as an advisor, according to Ann Garten, Director of Community Relations at El Camino. She was described as upbeat, positive, a go-getter and filled with laughter. She said Sproson would “go the extra mile” and took her job very seriously.
“Sam was one of our best advisors,” said Star Van Buren, director of the Small Business Development Center. “Not only was she extremely knowledgeable, she was also very passionate about assisting clients. She was smart and funny, always upbeat. We will miss her very much. Our hearts go out to her family and friends.”

The HBPD and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department detectives are investigating the crime. Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to call the HBPD at (310) 318-0351 or the LASD at (323) 526-5541.