Breaking News Update: Santa Monica Shooter Kills Six Before Being Shot Dead By Police
UPDATE**: Reuters reports that the gunman participated in a “string of shootings” throughout Santa Monica which killed six people, before he was ultimately cornered by police in a local library, where he was himself shot dead. Authorities are still investigating the matter and the motive behind the crime currently remains unknown.
At least one person has been killed and many more injured after a shooting occurred at Santa Monica College in California this afternoon. The shooter, wearing a sweatshirt bearing the statement “life is a gamble” – is now in custody. Police Sgt. Rudy Flores revealed that the unnamed suspect was also wounded, though it is not clear to what extent.
The gunfire began just before noon on Friday, roughly three miles away from where President Obama was attending a luncheon. In the same area, two dead bodies were found in a burned down home and in a car outside the building, a woman was found to be suffering from a gunshot wound. The incidents have yet to be clearly linked, but it is thought they are related. Santa Monica College was immediately placed on lockdown following the shootings.
CBS News has more info:
Jeff Furrows of the Santa Monica Fire Department said there was extensive fire damage inside the nearby home. A woman also was found with a gunshot wound in a car outside the home, he said.
Jerry Cunningham Rathner, who lives near the house, said she heard gunshots shortly before noon and came out onto her porch to see a man shooting at the residence. Soon, the building erupted in flames and was billowing smoke.
The gunman, dressed in black and wearing an ammunition belt, went to the corner and pointed a military-style rifle at a woman in a car and told her to pull over, Rathner said. He then signaled to a second car, also driven by a woman, to slow down and began firing into the vehicle.
“He fired three to four shots into the car — boom, boom, boom, right at her,” said Cunningham, who went to the woman’s aid and saw she was wounded in the shoulder.
“I can’t believe she didn’t have worse injuries,” Cunningham said.
Several witnesses also reported two separate shooting incidents.
Details are still emerging about the crime, but the suspect is said to be a white male who appeared “very calm” throughout the attack.
This is yet another senseless crime and another act which demonstrates the proliferation of gun violence in America and our need for reform. Our hearts go out to all those in Santa Monica – HelloGiggles will continue to update as more details become available.
Featured image via Getty Images
