Isla Vista is reeling in the wake of the shootings Friday night in which a lone gunman — 22-year-old Santa Barbara City College student Elliot Rodger — fatally shot six people and injured seven others; Rodger died in the events last night as well. Officials from UC Santa Barbara, City College, and the University of California have since released statements, as have the area’s elected representatives.
UCSB’s director of news and media relations, George Foulsham:
“Our campus community is shocked and saddened by the events that occurred last night in the nearby community of Isla Vista. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families who are grieving and mourning as a result of this tragedy.
“We have been working throughout the night to provide support to our students and community. Those efforts will continue today and throughout the coming days and weeks. In addition to counseling services, the University is providing temporary housing for displaced students.
“We are grateful to the first responders who handled the incident, including the Sheriff’s Department and UCSB officers. The investigation is ongoing and we will continue to work with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara County officials, and our colleagues at Santa Barbara City College.”
SBCC’s public information officer, Joan Galvan:
“Our hearts are aching as we learn about the tragedy that unfolded in Isla Vista last night. There are no words to express the sadness we have for the victims and their families and for all the residents of Isla Vista. We know our students co-mingle with UCSB students and Isla Vista residents as part of our greater community, and we all, as an extended family, are impacted by this unimaginable event.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and, for that reason, are not able to provide additional information at this time.
Further, we are coordinating with UCSB to provide counseling and support to our students. We are also mobilizing to provide counseling and support next week on campus to our SBCC students who seek such service. And we are arranging for grief counseling for any employee who wishes to access such services.
“SBCC President Lori Gaskin said, ‘In times of tragedy, we need to turn to each other for support, care for each other as we grieve for the victims, and pull together in compassion and strength.’”
University of California President Janet Napolitano:
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the news of a mass shooting last night in the Isla Vista area near UC Santa Barbara. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy, their families and the entire Santa Barbara community. I have been in touch with UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang since the news broke, and have told him the UC Office of the President will assist his campus in any way we can.
“While details on the shooting are scarce and families are still being notified, the campus is already taking steps in response. University officials have set up a room for families who are coming to campus, and are making counseling services available to any students, faculty, and staff who need our support. UC Santa Barbara officials are also working with the local County Sheriff’s Office and have opened the campus’s Emergency Operations Center. We will share additional information as it becomes available.”
Congressmember Lois Capps:
“My heart is broken over the shooting in Isla Vista last night and the lives it claimed. Our community is grieving and many people are hurting from this senseless tragedy. Isla Vista is a special place, and an important part of our Central Coast community. We all join you in mourning and our prayers are with you.
“We’ve endured too many tragedies as a nation over the past few years. But now is a time for us to pray and to come together as a community. May God bless the memory of these victims, give strength to those who were injured, and support all who are touched by this unconscionable act.”
3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr:
“My heart sank when I heard the news of what occurred in Isla Vista last night. It is hard to find the words to express the shock and sorrow I feel over this terrible tragedy. There are certainly no words that can fill the void left with the families of the victims.
“For myself, the Isla Vista community, and other residents of Santa Barbara County, I know all our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished in these horrific and senseless acts and that we will all mourn together with those families and pray for a speedy and full recovery for those injured.
“I also want to highly commend the skill and bravery of the members of our Sheriff’s Department and other first responders who acted strategically and forcefully to quickly bring to an end the deranged actions of one individual. I also want to thank the residents of Isla Vista for their individual and collective acts of heroism in assisting and protecting each other during this dangerous and tragic course of events which occurred in multiple locations in the community. Due to the quick thinking of so many, this terrible tragedy was prevented from becoming even worse.”
Goleta Mayor Michael Bennett:
“We are distressed by the horrible events that occurred in Isla Vista last night and offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this senseless tragedy. We hope for a quick recovery for the physically injured and emotionally wounded. The City of Goleta has offered and will continue to provide assistance to law enforcement, the University, and the County as they process this incident and provide support to those affected. Let’s keep the community in our prayers as we deal with this horrific situation.”
Governor Jerry Brown:
“Anne and I were saddened to learn of this senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those mourning the loss of their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Captain Mark Kelly, husband of former Congressmember Gabby Giffords (who was severely injured in a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011), and cofounder of the organization Americans for Responsible Solutions, which works to reduce gun violence:
“Gabby and I are praying for the victims of last night’s horrific tragedy in Isla Vista. Every time we learn of another senseless shooting like this one, our hearts break and we know that no words will bring peace to the families who lost loved ones. Like so many in the Isla Vista community, we are angry and shocked. But we are also grateful to the first responders who acted with such courage last night. We are hoping for strength for those who were injured.”
UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang:
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the tragic events in Isla Vista last night. While the details are still unfolding, reports are that seven people were killed, including the perpetrator, and several more injured in an appalling act of senseless violence. We grieve for the precious lives lost, and we share in the heartbreak of their families, friends, and classmates.
“This tragedy profoundly affects our entire university family. We have counselors on-site in Isla Vista and on our campus who are working with our students to provide services and support. Counselors can also be reached by phone at (805) 893-4411, 24 hours a day.
“While the police investigation continues, we await answers to many important questions. The campus, along with the police and local authorities, will provide information as it becomes available. We are committed to keeping our community informed. We have set up a campus call center for community members and parents with questions, at (805) 893-3901.
“On behalf of our university community, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the campus police officers and Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies who acted quickly and courageously to protect our students and other Isla Vista residents and prevent an even greater tragedy from unfolding.
“We are moved by the tremendous outpouring of sorrow and support from our community, including our faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, the UC Office of the President and Regents, elected officials, and countless friends and colleagues around the world. We will continue to draw strength and comfort from each other in the difficult days ahead.
“The flag on our campus will be at half-staff this week to honor those whose lives were so suddenly and tragically cut short. We will be in touch as we continue to respond to these events. Our UCSB family is in mourning.”
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson:
“As the horrors of this tragedy continue to unfold, I join the community in mourning the tragic and senseless loss of life as the result of last night’s shootings. My prayers go out to the family members of those who lost their lives, and to those who were injured and continue to fight for their recovery today. My prayers go out to the entire community. I know this tragedy will remain in our thoughts and lives for days and years to come.
“I am grateful for the tremendous efforts of the sheriff’s department, the police department and first responders, students, and university and healthcare leaders, whose actions remind us how important our common bonds of humanity are in times like these. Isla Vista and the entire community, please know that as we spend the next days and weeks asking ‘why?’ and ‘what could we have done?’ together, know that we grieve with you, and that you are not alone.
“At times like this, we need to come together to share our grief and comfort each other. We must recommit to treating each other with kindness and compassion, and strive to ensure that incidents like this never happen again.”
2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf:
“As a three-year resident of Isla Vista, and alumnus of UCSB, as well as the mother of three daughters, my heart breaks for the victims, their families, and friends. I grieve with them.
This was and is a horrible tragedy and I encourage anyone who may want or need assistance coping to contact UCSB Counseling Services at the Student Resources Building1-800-985-5990.”