Alleged gunman in Santa Monica College shooting wounded
The gunman who allegedly shot at least three people Friday in the Santa Monica College area was wounded by police officers at the campus library, law enforcement sources said. His condition was not known.
The bomb squad has also been called to the campus.
The California Highway Patrol said it received reports of shots fired at 11:55 a.m. at the corner of 17th and Pearl streets on the south side of the Santa Monica College campus. Sources said the shootings occurred in “multiple locations.â€
CHP officer Vince Ramirez told The Times one suspect is in custody and that officers are trying to determine if there was a second shooter. Other sources said they believe there was only one shooter.
At around 1 p.m., six sheriffs just ran into a parking lot at 17th and Pico Boulevard with guns drawn. A car with bullet holes was visible in one college lot.
President Obama was in the area for a fundraiser at the time, but sources said the shooting appears to be unrelated to his visit.
Secret Service spokesman Edwin M. Donovan said: “We are aware of the incident and it is not impacting the visit. It’s a local police matter at this point.â€
A staff member at the college superintendent’s office said the whole campus was being placed on lockdown, including her office -- which she said was off site.
“We’ve been told that there was a shooting,†said the employee, Lety Kilian said.
Alan Bass, 48, of Los Angeles was pacing anxiously outside the campus hoping to hear news of his son, who was on campus during the shooting. Bass said his son was taking an exam Friday and had called about 10 minutes before noon to say he was taking a break from studying.
Suddenly, he said he heard three shots fired and his son said he had to go. “He’s not answering the phone right now,†Bass said.
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