What Happened to Santa Monica College Shooting (2013)?
On June 7, 2013, John Zawahri, 23, embarked on a shooting spree in Santa Monica, California, killing his father and brother before moving to Santa Monica College, where he killed three more people and injured four others before being fatally shot by police. The incident sparked renewed debate on gun control loopholes, particularly regarding privately assembled firearms. Years later, Santa Monica College experienced another tragic workplace shooting in October 2024, highlighting ongoing safety concerns.
Quick Answer
The Santa Monica College Shooting on June 7, 2013, involved 23-year-old John Zawahri, who killed five people—including his father, brother, and three others near and on the college campus—and injured four, before being killed by police. The rampage, which began as a domestic dispute, brought national attention to 'ghost guns' and mental health issues. As of 2026, the college has implemented security enhancements, though it faced a separate, fatal workplace shooting in October 2024, underscoring persistent challenges in campus safety.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
John Zawahri's High School Threats and Mental Evaluation
While a student at Olympic High School, John Zawahri made violent threats against students, teachers, and security officers, leading to a police search of his home for weapons and explosives and a mental evaluation.
Firearm Purchase Denied to Zawahri
John Zawahri was denied a firearm purchase by the state Department of Justice, likely due to his past history.
Family Murders and Arson
John Zawahri kills his father, Samir Zawahri (55), and brother, Christopher Zawahri (24), at their Santa Monica home and sets the house on fire.
Rampage Towards Santa Monica College
Zawahri carjacks a vehicle, shoots at a city bus, and kills Santa Monica College groundskeeper Carlos Navarro Franco (68) and critically injures his daughter Marcela Diaz Franco (26) near the college campus.
Shooting at Santa Monica College Library
Zawahri enters the Santa Monica College campus, fatally shoots Margarita Gomez (68) outside the library, and then opens fire inside the library.
Perpetrator Fatally Shot by Police
Santa Monica Police officers and a campus police captain engage John Zawahri inside the college library, fatally shooting him and ending the rampage.
Marcela Diaz Franco Dies from Injuries
Marcela Diaz Franco, 26, succumbs to her gunshot wounds two days after the shooting, bringing the total number of non-perpetrator deaths to five.
Officers' Actions Deemed Justified
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office concludes its review, finding that the Santa Monica Police Department officers and Santa Monica Campus Police sergeant acted in self-defense and defense of others when they shot John Zawahri.
5-Year Anniversary Reflections
The Santa Monica community and Santa Monica College reflect on the five-year anniversary of the shooting, remembering the victims and the lasting impact on the campus.
10-Year Anniversary of the Shooting
The tenth anniversary of the Santa Monica College shooting prompts renewed discussions on gun violence, mental health, and campus security measures.
Workplace Shooting at SMC Center for Media & Design
Santa Monica College Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson is shot and critically injured by coworker Davon Dean at the SMC Center for Media & Design campus in a workplace violence incident.
Suspect Davon Dean Found Deceased
After a pursuit, suspect Davon Dean is found deceased inside his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Felicia Hudson Dies from Injuries
Felicia Hudson, the victim of the October 14 shooting, passes away from her injuries.
Evaluation of SMC's 2024 Shooting Response
An independent evaluation is published, assessing Santa Monica College's readiness and response to the October 2024 campus shooting, noting security improvements made since the 2013 incident.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Santa Monica College Shooting unfolded on June 7, 2013, when John Zawahri, 23, initiated a violent rampage that resulted in five deaths and four injuries, in addition to his own demise. The incident began at Zawahri's home on Yorkshire Avenue, where he murdered his father, Samir Zawahri, 55, and his brother, Christopher Zawahri, 24, before setting the house ablaze. Armed with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle he had assembled and a revolver, Zawahri then carjacked a vehicle, fired upon a city bus, and continued his spree towards the Santa Monica College campus.
Upon reaching the college, Zawahri fatally shot Carlos Navarro Franco, a 68-year-old campus groundskeeper, and critically wounded his daughter, Marcela Diaz Franco, 26, who later died from her injuries. He then killed Margarita Gomez, 68, who was collecting recyclables outside the library, before entering the library and opening fire on students. Santa Monica Police Department officers and a campus police captain confronted Zawahri inside the library, fatally shooting him, bringing the 13-minute rampage to an end.
Investigators later determined that Zawahri had a history of mental health issues, including violent threats in high school in 2006, which led to a mental evaluation and a denial of a firearm purchase in 2011. Despite being legally prohibited from owning firearms, he circumvented regulations by purchasing components online to build his untraceable AR-15-style rifle, highlighting significant loopholes in gun laws regarding '80 percent lower receivers' or 'ghost guns.' The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office concluded in March 2014 that the officers involved in Zawahri's shooting acted in self-defense and in defense of others.
The 2013 shooting prompted Santa Monica College to review and enhance its security measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras and automatic door locks. However, the institution faced another tragedy on October 14, 2024, when Davon Dean, an SMC custodian, shot and critically injured Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson at the Center for Media & Design campus in a workplace violence incident. Dean was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound the following day, and Hudson succumbed to her injuries on October 16, 2024. An independent evaluation in October 2025 assessed SMC's response to this later shooting, reflecting the ongoing efforts and challenges in maintaining campus safety in the years following the initial 2013 tragedy.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Santa Monica College Shooting (2013) made different choices?