Police have now established the identity of the Santa Monica College shooter that left five dead and many more traumatized as 23-year-old Santa Monica College student John Zawahri.
Over the weekend more details were released about Zawahri including information that he used to be a student of the college, suffered mental health issues in the past, and was just one day away from his 24th birthday.
Zawahri's mental heath records have not been released because he was a minor during the time of his diagnosis; however, CNN confirmed Santa Monica police made contact with him in 2006, possibly leading to his hospitalization because he made threats of hurting someone.
Believed to be angered by his parents' divorce and fueled by his alleged deteriorating mental condition, Zawahri began his shooting spree just before noon at their Yorkshire Avenue home killing his father Samir "Sam" Zawahri, 55, and brother Chris Zawahri, 25, before heading out to murder more.
The 1,000 square-foot house was set on fire before John Zawahri left the premises, but there are mixed reports on whether the fire started before or after the shooting.
According to Times, investigators believe the violence was sparked by a family dispute, but little is known about what the dispute was about as the investigation is still in the early stages.
But officials feel the shooting was premeditated due to the nature of his weapon and the amount of rounds found at the crime scenes. The incident has not been classified as a school shooting as police have emphasized the shootings took place at multiple locations, and just ended at the school.
But the victim of Zawahri's carjacking stated that he specifically asked to be taken to Santa Monica College.
"You're going to drive me to Santa Monica College and let me out," Laura Sisk, 41, said in an interview. "He told me to calm down, 'You'll be alright.
"He said he'd let me go if I didn't do anything stupid," she said.
Before getting to the school Zawahri injured one motorist, Deborah Fine, who used her car as a blockade to protect another driver, and then three people on a passing bus.
Once he was on campus he killed school employee Carlos Franco, 68 and his daughter Marcela Franco, 26, in their SUV, before executing another woman outside of the school's library.
Officials have not found any ties to domestic or international terror groups.
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