SANTA BARBARA, California: Authorities say seven people are dead and seven wounded in a drive-by shooting in a student enclave next to the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said the dead in the rampage in the Isla Vista neighborhood included the suspected attacker who was driving a black BMW.
Brown had earlier said the suspect exchanged gunfire with deputies before crashing into a parked car.
He said he didn’t know whether the suspect was shot by deputies, or if his wound was self-inflicted.
The circumstances surrounding the shootings were under investigation.
Brown said the shootings occurred at several sites in the town, resulting in nine crime scenes.
A student told the station he saw shots fired from a BMW, fatally striking one woman and critically injuring another woman.
“I heard shots, scream, pain,” Michael Vitak said.
“All emotions. I hope she is going to be fine.”
The station said a black BMW slammed into as many as two cars.
The shooting prompted officials to issue alerts urging people to stay indoors.
Isla Vista is known for parties, including an annual spring bash that turned into a violent blowout last month as young people clashed with police and tossed rocks and bottles.
A university police officer and four deputies were injured and 130 people were arrested.
Source: Associated Press
