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California shooting: local police under scrutiny over suspect questioning California shooting: local police under scrutiny over suspect questioning
(3 months later)
Classes are canceled and a memorial is planned for Tuesday at the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California after 22-year-old Elliot Rodger killed six students and injured 13 more.Classes are canceled and a memorial is planned for Tuesday at the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California after 22-year-old Elliot Rodger killed six students and injured 13 more.
On Friday, the Santa Barbara City College student allegedly stabbed his three roommates to death, shot and killed three strangers, left eight more with gunshot wounds and hit four people with his car before apparently shooting himself dead.On Friday, the Santa Barbara City College student allegedly stabbed his three roommates to death, shot and killed three strangers, left eight more with gunshot wounds and hit four people with his car before apparently shooting himself dead.
Rodger left a trail of YouTube videos and a lengthy text attributing plans for the apparent killing spree to his lack of a sex life and rejection by women.Rodger left a trail of YouTube videos and a lengthy text attributing plans for the apparent killing spree to his lack of a sex life and rejection by women.
But as local police comes under scrutiny over their questioning of Rodger before the shooting, mental health professionals are cautioning that identifying and stopping mass murderers is nearly impossible.But as local police comes under scrutiny over their questioning of Rodger before the shooting, mental health professionals are cautioning that identifying and stopping mass murderers is nearly impossible.
Weeks before the rampage, Rodger's mother requested police perform a welfare check on her son after viewing his recent YouTube postings. Deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office interviewed Rodger at his apartment, now the scene of impromptu memorials, but found Rodger polite and courteous, apparently not raising officers' concerns. Weeks before the rampage, Rodger's mother requested police perform a welfare check on her son after viewing his recent YouTube postings. Deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office interviewed Rodger at his apartment, now the scene of impromptu memorials, but found Rodger polite and courteous, apparently not raising officers' concerns.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office is conducting an internal investigation. Spokesperson Kelly Hoover declined to comment in detail on officers' encounter with Rodger, according to Reuters.The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office is conducting an internal investigation. Spokesperson Kelly Hoover declined to comment in detail on officers' encounter with Rodger, according to Reuters.
It's unclear if police watched any of the YouTube videos which prompted Rodger's mother's concern in the first place.It's unclear if police watched any of the YouTube videos which prompted Rodger's mother's concern in the first place.
Rodger later wrote about the encounter in a 141-page manifesto titled "My Twisted World," saying he had hidden firearms, legally purchased, in his home in preparation for the attacks. Rodger later wrote about the encounter in a 141-page manifesto titled "My Twisted World," saying he had hidden firearms, legally purchased, in his home in preparation for the attacks.
Police officials and mental health experts say Rodger's behavior still may not have been enough to allow authorities to act.Police officials and mental health experts say Rodger's behavior still may not have been enough to allow authorities to act.
Hoover said, in general, deputies are barred from entering residences without a warrant, unless they believe someone is in immediate danger. Instead, police said they found Rodger polite and courteous upon their visit.Hoover said, in general, deputies are barred from entering residences without a warrant, unless they believe someone is in immediate danger. Instead, police said they found Rodger polite and courteous upon their visit.
And mental health experts say that while mass murderers tend to display "deluded thinking," they're also difficult to pinpoint.And mental health experts say that while mass murderers tend to display "deluded thinking," they're also difficult to pinpoint.
Identifying mass killers, "is not an exact science," Risdon Slate, a professor of criminology at Florida Southern College told the AP.Identifying mass killers, "is not an exact science," Risdon Slate, a professor of criminology at Florida Southern College told the AP.
"We can point to all the warning signs we missed. But they're yellow flags. They're not red flags until blood is spilled," said James Alan Fox, a criminal justice professor at Northeastern University who has written several books on mass murders."We can point to all the warning signs we missed. But they're yellow flags. They're not red flags until blood is spilled," said James Alan Fox, a criminal justice professor at Northeastern University who has written several books on mass murders.
A memorial is planned at UCSB's Harder Stadium at 4pm PT on Tuesday.A memorial is planned at UCSB's Harder Stadium at 4pm PT on Tuesday.