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Santa Monica College Reopens After Deadly Shooting

Brianna Sacks |
June 10, 2013 | 10:07 a.m. PDT

Editor-in-Chief

(Santa Monica College, Flickr)
(Santa Monica College, Flickr)
Santa Monica College opened its doors to students and staff Monday with extra security, just three days after the deadly shooting last Friday that left five people dead on campus and nearby.

The death toll went up to five Sunday morning as authorities confirmed that Marcela Franco, 26, died at a nearby hospital. Franco was with her father, Carlos Navarro Franco, 68, a groundskeeper at SMC, when Zawahri reportedly opened fire while they were in their SUV on a campus parking lot.

Carlos died at the scene and Marcela was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. She had just registered for summer classes.

       SEE ALSO: Santa Monica Shooter Killed Father And Brother In Rampage

(Suspected shooter entering campus/Santa Monica Police Department)
(Suspected shooter entering campus/Santa Monica Police Department)
Friday's horrific series of events has left investigators perplexed and searching for a motive. The 23-year-old killed his father and older brother in a home near SMC on Friday, leaving the house in flames. He then took to the streets and fired at a passing car, wounding the drive, took a female motorist hostage and forced her to drive as he shot at people and a Big Blue Bus in a neighborhood by the college. Once on campus, he shot a woman in the head, and was then shot and killed by police in the library.

His rampage lasted about 15 minutes.

Authorities told the L.A. Times Zawahri was suffering from mental problems.

Though students are returning to class and preparing for finals, the campus library remains closed. The library is where police shot and killed suspect John Zawahri, 23.

A candlelight vigil was planned for Monday evening in front of the library and the mood is somber on the campus as students continue to wrap up finals that were interrupted by the Friday shooting, KPCC reported.

SEE ALSO: Shooting on Santa Monica College Campus

Santa Monica College plans a memorial service during Tuesday night commencement ceremonies. The college will broadcast the event, which begins at 6 p.m., via the internet.

The Santa Monica Police Department released the names of four victims on sunday: the gunman's father, Samir Zawahri, 55; his brother, Christopher Zawahri, 24; Marcela Franco, 26, who succumbed Sunday; and her father, Carlos Franco, 68. The fifth victim, whose name was not released, is also believed to be a woman.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times

Read all of Neon Tommy's coverage on the Santa Monica College shooting



 

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