The gunman who killed six people and died in a mass shooting near the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been identified by an attorney representing his father.
The father of Elliot Rodger confirmed through his attorney, Alan Schifman, that his son was the gunman. The 22-year-old was being treated by multiple therapists and was a student at Santa Barbara City College, said Schifman.
Schifman said that Rodger’s family was “devastated.”
“They want to send the deepest condolences to all the victims' families involved at this time,” he said.
Seven people - including Rodger - were killed and another seven people were injured in the shooting in the Isla Vista neighborhood Friday, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, who repeatedly referred to the shooting as a planned mass murder.
"It’s just unfortunate that these kinds of circumstances occur," said Brown.
The gunman crashed his car after exchanging gunfire with deputies, said Brown, and was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
It's unclear if police shot him or if the wound was self-inflicted. Police also recovered a semiautomatic handgun from the gunman's car, said Brown.
Concerns Over Rodger's Well Being Reported
Schifman said in recent weeks that Rodger’s parents were concerned for their son's well being and reported his disturbing YouTube videos to police, which lead to an investigation. According to Schifman, police interviewed Rodger and found him to be “polite and kind.” He did not specify which law enforcement division conducted the interview.
A social worker also contacted police about Rodger last week, said Schifman.
The YouTube posts include one titled "Elliot Rodger's Retribution," which Schifman called "extremely disturbing." In the video, Rodger sits in the driver's seat of a car as he promises "retribution" and discusses his "loneliness, rejection and unfulfilled desires."
"Girls gave their affection and sex and love to other men but never to me," he says. He adds that it'll be his last video.
Schifman said Rodger was diagnosed as being a high-functioning patient with Asperger syndrome and had faced bullying through much of his life as he had trouble making friends.
Rodger's father, Peter Rodger, is a film director who was the assistant director for one of the the “Hunger Games” films.
Witness Call Shooting Chaotic and Surreal
Witnesses described the shooting to ABC affiliate KEYT-TV as chaotic and surreal, with many in the crowd mistaking the gunfire for fireworks. One man said that he saw shots fired from a BMW, fatally hitting one woman and critically injuring another woman.
"I heard shots, scream, pain," Michael Vitak said. "All emotions. I hope she is going to be fine."
Sierra Swartz told KEYT-TV that the suspect fired at her and that she initially thought the pistol was an air gun.
“Before I started walking the other way he just lifted it up and … he shot and I felt like I just felt the wind pass right by my face,” she said. “I went to a random person’s house and I just ran inside and I was like ‘Honestly, like someone just shot at me.’”
Bystanders said that crowds of people ran from the area and looked for shelter after the shooting started.
“All of a sudden a bunch of people just started running into the store and we were all like ‘Just take cover, take cover,’” UCSB student Cayla Bergman told KEYT-TV. “It was really scary so all of us just called our parents.”
Mike Hassan, owner of a deli where one person was shot, said the incident was the “last thing” he would have expected in the neighborhood.
“I still [do] not believe it … Even [though] I seen it in front of me,” said Hassan.
The University of California, Santa Barbra, released a statement Saturday morning addressing the shooting.
“Our campus community is shocked and saddened by the events that occurred last night in the nearby community of Isla Vista,” read the statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families who are grieving and mourning as a result of this tragedy.”
The university did not say if any of the victims were involved with the school in any capacity.
The victims' identities were not immediately released. Brown said the injured were being treated for gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries, including at least one person who underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries.
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