Seven people, including the suspected shooter, died Friday night as the result of a series of drive-by shootings in a small college town in Southern California.
Authorities are calling it “premeditated mass murder” adding that the suspect was “severely mentally disturbed,” reports local ABC affiliate KEYT-TV.
Although police would not identify the suspected gunman, the connection was quickly made to a chilling video posted by a young man who identified himself as 22-year-old Elliot Rodger, titled “retribution,” reports the Santa Barbara Independent. In the video, the young man vows to take revenge for what he describes as a lifetime of sexual rejection.
Elliot Rodger, is mostly likely the son of a movie producer, Peter Rodger, an assistant director on the blockbusterHunger Games film series.
The shooting spree began at 9:27 p.m. and then continued as a series of drive-by shootings that were followed by “two separate gunfights with deputies,” reports theLos Angeles Times.
It seems the shooter may have even struck a conversation with some of his victims. One witness told KEYT-TV that she was approached by the driver of a black BMW, which is the same car that the young man in the YouTube videos has, who called out “Hey, what’s up?” while flashing a handgun.
Seconds later she says she felt something buzz by her head and realized they were bullets. Following the second gunfight with officers, the shooter crashed into a parked vehicle and police officers discovered the man was shot dead.
It’s unclear whether he shot himself or whether he was shot by police officers. Authorities are investigating nine crime scenes.