Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Santa Monica Rampage That Claimed 4 Lives May Have Started As A Bitter Family Dispute [UPDATED]
Law enforcement sources say that the gunman who went on a shooting spree Friday afternoon that took the lives of four victims in Santa Monica first took aim at his father and brother.
The gunman was later killed by police in a shootout on the Santa Monica College campus. FBI and local authorities are still trying to figure out the motive for the gunman's violent rampage, but they say that it may have started out as a domestic dispute, according to the Los Angeles Times. They stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages, however.
The gunman's killing spree began at a home at Kansas and Yorkshire avenues around 11:50 a.m. Friday morning. Here is a video from the scene:
Support for LAist comes from
The first two victims are believed to be the gunman's father and brother. Neighbors told Fox 11 News (via LA Weekly) that the parents were undergoing a contentious divorce.
The father, the brother and the gunman himself have not been identified. A photo believed to depict the gunman's body circulated, and he was described as a white male about 25 to 30 years old who was dressed in all black and carried an AR-15, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Records show that the owner of the home is Samir Zawahri, 55, but coroner's officials would not confirm for the paper whether he was one of the victims.
Law enforcement initially suspected that the gunman had help but they now believe that he acted alone. The "person of interest" who was detained earlier has been questioned and released, according to the Los Angeles Times.
So far only one victim's name has been released. Carlos Navarro Franco, 68, of West Los Angeles was killed in a parking lot at 20th and Pearl Streets while he was in a red Ford Explorer. Franco died at the scene and his passenger was seriously injured.
UPDATE 1:45 p.m.:CNN reports that a few years ago Zawahri had been hospitalized after he talked about harming someone else. It's not clear whether he was committed by his family, the state or voluntarily, law enforcement said. It's not clear when he was released.
UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: The suspect has been identified by law enforcement sources in Washington as John Zawahri, and he would have turned 24 today. These sources told the Los Angeles Times that Zawahri was angry over his parents' divorce and that he had mental health issues as a juvenile. It's not clear, though, exactly what sparked the rampage.
UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: Police sources confirmed with the Los Angeles Times that Samir Zawahri, 55, and his adult son were the first victims in the shooting rampage. Neighbors told the Times that the alleged shooter lived with his mother at an apartment on South Centinela Avenue, which police investigated yesterday. Court records show that Zawahri had recently divorced Randa Abdou, who lived in that apartment building.
Support for LAist comes from
Neighbors described the gunman—whose name has not been released—as an angry person who often yelled and cursed. Neighbor Mykel Denis told the Times, "Sounds really travel in the building and he had a very distinct voice. It was very low and loud. He was a very angry person." Denis once threatened to call the police on him after witnessing a fight between the mother and son.
The story also says that police are investigating the gunman's connections to Santa Monica College, because he specifically asked one of his carjacking victims to take him to the campus.
Related:
Santa Monica Shootings: 5 Dead Including Suspected Shooter
The Stories Of The Victims Of Deadly Santa Monica Rampage
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist