CBS— Police said they now have a clearer picture of what sparked the deadly college rampage near Santa Barbara, California Friday night.
Seven people are dead, including the gunman. Thirteen others are injured.
CBS News correspondent David Begnau talked with a deli owner on the street where 22-year-old Elliot Rodger opened fire.
“That could have been any of us, me, my son, any of our employees,” said owner Sam Hassan.
Hassan said he knew Rodger and 20-year-old Christopher Michael-Martinez, who was killed inside his store.
Sheriff Bill Brown said Rodger first stabbed three of his roommates to death before getting into his black BMW armed with three handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Brown said when he was through, four men and two women were dead at ten different crime scenes. The sheriff said Rodger was found dead in his crashed car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head following two shootouts with deputies.
Begnau reported that the police had at least three encounters with Rodger over the past few years…the most recent one just weeks ago after his parents became alarmed about videos he posted on his YouTube channel.
“He was able to make a very convincing story, that there was no problem, that he wasn’t going to hurt himself or anyone else,” Sheriff Brown said, “And it just didn’t meet the criteria for any further intervention”
Brown said the department is deflecting criticism that deputies could have done more at the time.
“We certainly, you know, wish that we could turn the clock back and maybe change some things.” Brown said.
Brown said Rodger’s parents are cooperating with the investigation. Authorities are finalizing notification to relatives and are working to make positive identifications of the victims
CBS News reported that the most troubling in the manifesto was Rodger’s account of the police’s April visit. He wrote that he was concerned authorities would search his apartment and find out what he was up to.
