UK-born student kills six in California rampage

Rodger, the son of a Hollywood director, stabbed three people to death in his apartment before gunning down three more victims on Friday night in the town of Isla Vista, near the campus of the University of California in Santa Barbara.

He later took his own life in a shoot-out with police after his killing spree.

Police found three legally purchased semi automatic weapons and more than 400 rounds of ammunition in his car. At least 13 more people were wounded in the attack, including eight who were shot.

His rampage apparently followed a video he posted on YouTube, describing it as his “last”, in which he talks bitterly of getting revenge on humanity after years of being turned down by girls. There is a clip of what Rodger called the “Retribution” video below – warning, some viewers may find this distressing. The full video can be accessed on YouTube here.

Local sheriff Bill Brown told a news conference: “It’s obviously the work of a madman,” adding that the community college student, son of The Hunger Games assistant director Peter Rodger, had been seen by a variety of health care professionals and that it was “very, very apparent he was severely mentally disturbed.”

Witnesses reported seeing someone driving a black BMW through the streets and shooting at bystanders in the beachside community where many college students live.

Rejection rationale
A young man identifying himself as Elliot Rodger had posted a number of YouTube clips, some of which have now been removed, complaining of his loneliness ahead of Friday's attack, including his final one titled "Retribution". 
He talked of his hatred of women who had rejected him and of popular kids, threatening to kill people as a result of his isolation and sexual frustration. 
"You girls have never been attracted to me. I don't know why you girls aren't attracted to me. But I will punish you all for it. It's an injustice, a crime," he said in the video, his speech punctuated by bursts of laughter.
The clip, since removed from YouTube as a violation of its policies, appeared to have been uploaded on Friday night, shortly before the shooting. Brown said Rodger had also penned a 141-page manifesto, in addition to the disturbing videos.
Rodger's justification for his murders has caused widespread outrage, with many tweeting with the hashtag #YesAllWomen pointing out that victims are not to blame. 

Brown said his department had three times been in contact with Rodger, who was born in the UK, prior to the killings, including once after a family member asked them to check on his welfare last month.

“We offer our deepest, compassionate sympathy to the families involved in this terrible tragedy,” lawyer Alan Shifman told reporters outside the family home in the Woodland Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, reading from a prepared statement on behalf of the family, who say their son had Asperger’s syndrome.

“We are experiencing the most inconceivable pain and our hearts go out to everyone involved,” he added.

Rodger apparently began his killing in his apartment, stabbing three men. He then headed to a sorority house, where members report hearing aggressive knocking for at least a minute. No-one answered, but witnesses report that Rodger shot three women outside the house moments later.

Katherine Cooper, 22, and Veronica Weiss, 19, died. Rodger then drove to a nearby deli and shot dead 20-year-old student Christopher Michael-Martinez.

They talk about gun rights, what about Chris’ right to live? When will this insanity stop? Richard Martinez, father of murdered student Christopher Michael-Martinez

He shot at pedestrians as he drove, traded fire with police and struck two cyclists before he crashed his car and officers found him with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Brown said.

Richard Martinez told reporters that his son Christopher was an English major who wanted to go to law school.

“Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA [National Rifle Association, pro-gun lobby],” Martinez told reporters
outside the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, close to collapsing from emotion.

“They talk about gun rights, what about Chris’ right to live? When will this insanity stop?”

Watch below: Richard Martinez’s passionate plea after the death of his son Christopher.