According to local news reports on Friday, several people have been wounded including a gunman at Santa Monica College, just a few miles from President Obama’s fundraiser in the city. Secret Service was notified, but the incident did not disturb the event. “We are aware of the incident and it is not impacting the visit,” said Secret Service Spokesman Edwin M. Donovan. One person, allegedly the shooter, was shot and sent to the hospital according to Santa Monica Police.
Witnesses described a “fully armed” subject shooting at vehicles, according to California Highway Patrol. All other area schools are on lockdown.
Santa Monica College is a gun-free zone. According to the institution’s safety regulations:
Possessions of firearms or replicas, ammunition, explosives, knives/blades longer than 21/2 inches, other weapons, or fireworks are against the law in the College community or at College -sponsored activities. California Penal Codes 626.9 and 626.10 also prohibit the possession of firearms (including pellet and BB guns) on College property without specific written permission of the Chief of Police.
UPDATE: There may be as many as six people dead according to college authorities.
Ben Shapiro is Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the New York Times bestseller “Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America” (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013).