Seven people were left dead after a drive-by shooter went on a rampage near a Santa Barbara campus, including the attacker, and seven others wounded, authorities said Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
Before crashing his black BMV into a parked car, the gunman got into two gun battles and injured seven other people during Friday night's rampage in the beachside community of Isla Vista at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
He repeatedly referred to the shooting as a planned mass murder.
"It's obviously the work of a madman," said Brown. "It's just unfortunate that these kinds of circumstances occur."
A student saw shots fired from a BMW, fatally hitting one woman and critically injuring another woman, he told ABC affiliate KEYT-TV.
"I heard shots, scream, pain," Michael Vitak said. "All emotions. I hope she is going to be fine."
After exchanging gunfire with deputies, the suspect crashed his car and was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, said Brown.
According to ABC News, it's unclear if police shot him or if the wound was self-inflicted. Police also recovered a semiautomatic handgun from the suspect's car, said Brown.
Brown said that a YouTube video titled "Elliot Rodger's Retribution" appeared to be linked to the shooting.
In the video, a young man, who identifies himself as Elliot Rodger, sits in the driver's seat of a car as he promises "retribution" and discusses his "loneliness, rejection and unfulfilled desires."
"Girls gave their affection and sex and love to other men but never to me," he says. He adds that it'll be his last video.
It hasn't been confirmed whether the person who posted the video or the man in it is the suspect.
"We're investigating that as evidence that we believe is connected to this crime," said Brown.
Identities of the victims have not been released.
Injured were being treated for gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries, including at least one person who underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries, Brown said.
