Mountain lion shot and killed at Santa Monica office building

Photo by Santa Monica Police Department via PatrickNBCLA/Twitter

The Santa Monica Police Department and the Department of Fish and Game have corralled a mountain lion in a Santa Monica office complex courtyard on Second Street, police said. The animal has not yet been tranquilized.

Police have closed Second Street for the incident. A janitor reported the sighting at about 6 a.m.

"With the Santa Monica Mountains nearby, we see all kinds of critters," said Lt. Calisse Lindsey Santa to NBC LA, of the Santa Monica Police Department. "Raccoons, deer – it’s amazing what I've seen in last few years. It happens, but never a mountain lion in a building."

UPDATE 10 a.m. NBC LA reports the mountain lion was shot and killed when it tried to escape. 

Santa Monica Police confirm mountain lion shot and killed at 9:15am.Said 75 lb female tried to escape courtyard after less lethal force

— Patrick Healy (@PatrickNBCLA) May 22, 2012

UPDATE 10 31 a.m. NBC now reporting the mountain lion was an 80-pound male. 

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