Suspect caught on camera punching woman outside Venice store

VENICE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Surveillance video outside of a store caught a male suspect punching a woman and knocking her to the ground in Venice.

The incident happened Saturday around 7:30 p.m. on Windward Avenue. Surveillance cameras show the suspect suddenly punching the woman as passersby tried stopping him.

"The victim and the suspect had some type of verbal argument inside of a store. When the victim exited, the suspect exited, the suspect punched the victim, victim went down," Los Angeles police Officer Alicia Elliott said.

Earlier surveillance video shows the suspect walking into a Windward Farms store and getting in line at the register. He and the victim appeared to get into a heated exchange at the counter before she was punched outside.

According to residents, that kind of violence is nothing new in Venice. But Pacific Division detectives said crime isn't on the rise in the area and that the suspect in this incident will be caught.

"Currently we have an active investigation. We know who the suspect is and we're hoping to get him in custody soon," Elliott said.

Police did not release the suspect's identity, but said he will face charges of felony assault once he is arrested.