Santa Monica College Shooting: A Chronicle of Tragedy and Response

The Santa Monica College (SMC) community has been struck by multiple shooting incidents throughout the years, each leaving a lasting impact. These events, ranging from targeted attacks to acts of mass violence, have prompted reflection, grief, and a renewed focus on campus safety. This article delves into the details surrounding the shootings, examining the perpetrators, victims, responses, and the broader context of gun violence in academic settings.

The June 7, 2013 Shooting Spree

One of the most significant incidents occurred on June 7, 2013, when a shooting spree unfolded near and on the Santa Monica College campus. The catalyst for this tragedy was a domestic dispute and subsequent fire at a home located at 2036 Yorkshire Avenue, where 23-year-old John Samir Zawahri lived.

The Initial Events

After setting fire to the house, Zawahri, armed with an AR-15-type semi-automatic rifle assembled from legally purchased components, initiated a series of violent acts. He stopped a woman driving a Mazda hatchback, holding her at gunpoint. When a passing female driver tried to intervene, Zawahri shot and wounded her. He then ordered the driver of the first car, a 41-year-old woman, to drive him to the Santa Monica College campus.

Violence En Route to the College

During the journey to the college, Zawahri shot at Big Blue Bus 4057, which was carrying approximately two dozen passengers, injuring three of them. A police cruiser was also fired upon. Upon arrival at the college, police exchanged gunfire with Zawahri.

Victims of the June 7, 2013 Shooting

Six people were killed during the incident, including Zawahri, who was shot by police. One shooting victim died from her wounds in the hospital two days later. Four others were injured and treated at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Zawahri's first victims were his father, 55-year-old Samir Zawahri, and older brother, 24-year-old Christopher Zawahri, who were believed to have been shot and killed after the house was set on fire. Debra Lynn Fine, a 50-year-old woman, was shot as she came upon the Yorkshire Avenue carjacking and attempted to intervene.

Two people were killed near the library at Santa Monica College: Margarita Gomez, a 68-year-old woman who was collecting recyclable material, and Carlos Navarro Franco, the 68-year-old groundskeeper for the school and the driver of the Ford Explorer. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office released the causes of death on June 12, revealing the following:

Samir Zawahri was shot multiple times.
Christopher Zawahri was shot once in the chest.
Carlos Navarro Franco died of gunshot wounds to the neck and face.
Margarita Gomez died after being shot in the abdomen and chest.

The Shooter: John Samir Zawahri

John Samir Zawahri was identified by officials as the shooter. He was armed with an AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle, a .44 caliber black powder Pietta Model 1858 New Army revolver, and an additional upper receiver for the rifle. He was described as wearing black tactical clothing, and his carjacking victim, Laura Sisk, stated he wore "body armor," though it was later determined the tactical vest did not contain any type of armor. Sources said Zawahri had forty 30-round magazines in pouches in his clothing and in a bag he carried.

Zawahri's Background

In 2006, while a student at Olympic High School in Santa Monica, a teacher saw Zawahri surfing the Web for information on assault weapons and instructions on making explosive devices. School staff also learned that he had repeatedly made threats against students, teachers, and campus security officers. Police were involved, and bomb-making materials were found at his home. Zawahri was subsequently admitted to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.

Zawahri was a student of Santa Monica High School before enrolling in Santa Monica College in the winter of 2009. The college had no disciplinary issues with Zawahri, officials said. The rampage allegedly started over an undetermined family dispute. Public records show that Zawahri's parents were married in 1985 and moved into the house they purchased on Yorkshire Avenue in 1996. His mother, Randa Abdou, left the home and moved to an apartment with the two boys in 1998. She sought a restraining order against the father for domestic violence a short time later, but the case was dismissed when the mother failed to appear in court. Subsequently, the elder son lived with the father at the residence on Yorkshire Avenue, while Zawahri lived in an apartment in Mar Vista, Los Angeles, with his mother.

Zawahri's Note

Zawahri prepared a three-page handwritten note that was found on his body. In it, he expressed remorse for killing his father and brother but did not give a motive. He said goodbye to friends and expressed hope that his mother would be taken care of and receive recompense from his father's estate. Investigators believe that mental illness played a role in the killings. Searching his home, police found replica weapons and illegal zip guns.

The October 14 Shooting at the Center for Media and Design

More recently, on October 14, a shooting occurred at the Santa Monica College Center for Media and Design on Stewart Street. The victim, identified as Felicia Hudson, a 54-year-old Custodial Operations Manager, was fatally injured in the incident.

Immediate Response

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) received the initial call via 911 and responded swiftly. The suspect fled immediately after the shooting, prompting a search. Students and parents inside the student union reported hiding in a bowling alley and cramming into a freight elevator after hearing gunshots outside the building.

Identification and Apprehension of the Suspect

SMPD Detectives identified Davon Durell Dean, an SMC employee, as the suspected shooter. Dean had a history of arrests, including for attempted murder in 2011 and assault with a deadly weapon, a firearm, in 2019. However, his only convictions were for misdemeanor property crimes.

On October 15, officers with the Hawthorne Police Department located the suspect’s vehicle near El Segundo Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. After a short pursuit, a pursuit intervention technique was used to stop the suspect's vehicle. A barricade situation ensued, and Dean turned his gun on himself. SWAT officers maintained a cautious position, using a long tool to break the window and remove the weapon before confirming the suspect was deceased.

Aftermath and Response from Santa Monica College

Following the October 14 shooting, all seven campuses of Santa Monica College were closed. SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery addressed the community, stating, "To help our community through this very difficult time, SMC will be providing…counseling and mental/emotional support. At this heartbreaking time, I urge us all to come together in kindness and compassion as we navigate this unspeakable tragedy."

Dr. Jeffery also shared that the college would conduct a thorough review of the incident. Classes, events, and services were canceled in the immediate aftermath, and grief/crisis counseling services were made available to students and employees.

Santa Monica College's Response to Gun Violence

In the wake of these shootings, Santa Monica College has taken steps to enhance campus safety and support the community.

Security Measures and Policies

On August 7, 2013, the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution banning firearms on its nine area campuses. The resolution cited "repeated, serious occurrences of campus-based shootings" and stated that "the presence of firearms, even when nonoperational and in the instructional setting, lends itself to the potential for panic and fear." The policy allows weapons on campus only if carried by a sworn law enforcement officer or for use in a theatrical performance.

The SMC Police Department is committed to protecting the college community. There will be a heightened focus on safety in the coming days and months. SMCPD may be reached from any on-campus phone or by calling 310-434-4300. SMCPD actively monitors the campus in real time.

Support Services and Counseling

Santa Monica College provides counseling and mental/emotional support to help the community through difficult times. Grief and crisis counseling services are available to students and employees.

Review of Hiring Practices

In response to concerns raised after the October 14 shooting, Santa Monica College has addressed its hiring practices. The college does not disclose previous criminal convictions; all employees are fingerprinted. The college is unaware of an applicant’s arrest history. The college only receives information from the Department of Justice in the event of a conviction. SMC conducts background checks that include fingerprinting, which is submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ then provides information to the employer regarding any “convictions” that match Department of Justice records.

The college does not ask about, nor can it consider, an applicant’s arrest history. These convictions were not for disqualifying drug or sex offenses.

Broader Context of Campus Shootings

The shootings at Santa Monica College are part of a broader pattern of gun violence on college and university campuses across the United States. These incidents have varied in nature, from isolated acts of violence to mass shootings, and have prompted ongoing debates about gun control, mental health, and campus security.

Examples of Other Campus Shootings

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (December 6, 2023): A 67-year-old former business professor, whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected, opened fire in the building housing the university's business school, killing three professors and badly wounding a fourth.
Michigan State University (February 13, 2023): A 43-year-old gunman fired inside an academic building and the student union, killing three students and injuring five others. Students and parents inside the student union said they hid in a bowling alley and crammed into a freight elevator after hearing gunshots outside the building.
Northern Arizona University (October 9, 2015): Just weeks into his freshman year, a student walked onto the campus in Flagstaff and opened fire. One student was killed and three others were wounded in the first deadly shooting since the university was founded in 1899.
Umpqua Community College (October 1, 2015): A 26-year-old man opened fire on his writing class, killing his instructor and eight other people at the school in rural Roseburg, Oregon. Nine more people were also wounded.
Oikos University (April 2, 2012): A former nursing student fatally shot seven people at the small private college in East Oakland, California.

Contributing Factors and Preventative Measures

Various factors have been identified as potential contributors to campus shootings, including mental health issues, access to firearms, and security vulnerabilities. Preventative measures often include enhanced background checks, improved mental health services, increased security presence, and active shooter training.

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