California — The suspect in a California college shooting on Monday, which left an employee critically injured, has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being surrounded by police, authorities have confirmed.
Essential Survival Gear You Need Before the Next Hurricane Hits
The initial incident occurred at Santa Monica College’s Center for Media and Design satellite campus shortly before 10 p.m. local time on Monday, according to authorities. The victim, identified as a custodial operations manager, was critically injured in the shooting, Santa Monica Police said in an update on Tuesday evening.
The suspected shooter, 39-year-old Davon Durrell Dean, was also a college employee, according to police. After the shooting, Dean fled the scene and remained at large overnight. On Tuesday afternoon, around 3 p.m., police located his vehicle in Hawthorne, approximately 12 miles south of Santa Monica.
A brief car chase ensued involving officers from the Hawthorne Police Department, which ended when Dean’s vehicle was boxed in. Despite efforts from the Crisis Negotiations Team, Dean was found dead inside his car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Santa Monica police confirmed in a statement posted Tuesday evening on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Police are continuing their investigation into the events surrounding the shooting but emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Authorities noted that Dean had previous run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 2011 for attempted murder and again in 2019 for assault with a deadly weapon involving a firearm, though he was not convicted in either case.
The shooting has been described as a “workplace violence incident, not a random act,” according to Santa Monica College Chief of Police Johnnie Adams.
The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Santa Monica College President Kathryn Jeffery expressed the college’s support for the injured employee, calling the situation an “unspeakable tragedy.”
“The College is united in sending love and support to the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones,” Jeffery said in a statement.
In light of the incident, all Santa Monica College campuses were closed on Tuesday, with officials stating the decision was made to prioritize the safety and well-being of students and staff.
“Santa Monica College remains committed to maintaining a safe environment for all employees and students,” Adams added.
The Santa Monica Police Department announced that extra patrols would be deployed around local schools on Tuesday to provide additional security.
