Suspect involved in shooting of Southern California college colleague found dead in car after standoff

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A gunman suspected of seriously injuring a co-worker in a shooting at Santa Monica College in California killed himself during a standoff with police, authorities said.

The unidentified victim, a custodial operations manager, remains in critical condition after being shot Monday evening at the school’s Center for Media and Design, Santa Monica police said in a statement Wednesday.

The 39-year-old suspect fled after the shooting, which college officials called a “workplace violence incident.” His car was stopped by police near the town of Hawthorne, south of Santa Monica. After failing to surrender, he was found dead by suicide, according to the department’s statement.

“The investigation continues and detectives are working to determine the complete sequence of events leading to this tragedy,” the release said. “There are no additional known suspects involved and there is no ongoing threat to the public.”

In 2011, the suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and in 2019, he was arrested for alleged assault with a deadly weapon. However, his only convictions were for property crimes, police said.

The community college, which has about 30,000 students spread across satellite campuses in the beachfront city, was open again Wednesday after being closed Tuesday during the investigation.