Calif. shooting suspect is director's son

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, May 25, 2014

Drive-by shootings in Southern California on Friday night left seven people dead, including the attacker, and several others wounded, local media reported Saturday.

A picture of Elliot Rodger is displayed during a news conference by local police in Santa Barbara County, Southern California of the United States, May 24, 2014. Local police confirm that Elliot Rodger is the suspect in a mass shooting that left 7 people dead, including the gunman and 7 injured in Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara on May 23. [Photo: Xinhua]

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said seven people were killed, including the gunman; seven others were hospitalized either with gunshot wounds or traumatic injuries -- one with life-threatening injuries; and there were nine separate crime scenes.

The sheriff said the initial call came in to dispatch at 9:27 p.m. Friday night as multiple gunshots. The incident occurred in Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara. Deputies in the area found several victims and received information about the suspect and vehicle involved.

Local police confirm that Elliot Rodger is the suspect in the mass shooting. His father, Peter Rodger, works in the film industry and was the second unit assistant director on the first "The Hunger Games" film, according to a spokeswoman for Lionsgate.

A KEYT report said "witnesses described seeing a black BMW speeding through the streets, spraying bullets at people and various targets."

Brown said at 9:33 p.m. the suspect exchanged gunfire with deputies then veered down Del Playa and crashed into a parked car.

Deputies found the suspect inside the BMW dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Brown said he did not know if the suspect was shot and killed by deputies or if the wound was self-inflicted.

The sheriff said a semi automatic handgun was recovered from the scene and believes the suspect acted alone.

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