Students Return to Santa Monica College After Shooting
Students were returning to classes at Santa Monica College today following the shooting rampage last week that claimed the lives of five victims on the campus and elsewhere in Santa Monica.
The death toll from Friday's shootings went up to five Sunday morning as a young woman who was shot with her father, a Santa Monica College groundskeeper, died at a Westwood hospital.
Police Sunday officially named the suspect, John Zawahri, who would have turned 24 Saturday. He was shot and killed by police at the campus Friday. A law enforcement told the Los Angeles Times that the gunman had had some mental issues in the past. Other sources said they believe the shooting was triggered by a family dispute.
Also released Sunday were the names of four victims -- the gunman's father, Samir Zawahri, 55; his brother, Christopher Zawahri, 24; Marcela Dia Franco, 26, who succumbed Sunday; and her father, Carlos Franco, 68. The fifth victim, whose name was not released, is believed to have been a woman.
Marcela Franco was surrounded by her family as she died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Sunday morning, according to the hospital. Her father was killed instantly as the two were in his red SUV at the school on Friday.
The young woman wanted to be a clinical psychologist, The Times reported. When her school, Cal State Dominguez Hills, couldn't provide the units she needed to graduate in the fall, she decided to take the courses at Santa Monica, where her father worked.
One shooting victim, identified as Debra Fine, was in good condition and was released Saturday night.
Campus police said a desire to return the campus to normal has prompted administrators to schedule a memorial service during Tuesday evening's commencement ceremonies. The school, which reopened at 7 a.m. today, began making counseling available to faculty, staff and students over the weekend.
