Santa Monica College shooting suspect dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound after manhunt
An hours-long manhunt for the person who shot a Santa Monica College employee late Monday evening came to an end the following afternoon when police found the suspect, also a college employee, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting happened around 9:50 p.m. Monday at the Santa Monica College Center for Media & Design at 1660 Stewart Street. Santa Monica police confirmed that it was a "workplace violence incident, not a random act."
The Santa Monica Police Department led the criminal investigation, with assistance from the college and campus police.
Police continued to search for the suspect through the night and into Tuesday, and said the victim was in critical condition at the hospital.
"The college is fully cooperating with authorities, and all Santa Monica College campuses will be closed on Tuesday to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community," the Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement.
Investigators revealed on Tuesday that they had been tracking the suspect since the Monday night shooting. They described the man as an employee of the college.
Tuesday afternoon, the El Segundo Police Department surrounded a black sedan following a brief pursuit near Aviation Boulevard and 120th Street.
SWAT teams pinned the vehicle to the side of the road but the driver refused to cooperate with police and exit the car. The standoff started around 3 p.m. and officers advised motorists to stay away from the area.
The suspect died by suicide during the standoff.
After his death, detectives identified the suspect as 39-year-old Davon Durell Dean. Police said he was previously arrested for attempted murder in 2011 and assault with a deadly weapon in 2019. Officers added that he was convicted of misdemeanor property crimes in the past.
All Santa Monica College campus operations were canceled on Tuesday due to the incident. School administration chose to continue the closure through the week, and conduct classes, support services and business operations online through Sunday.
Employees can call (800) 882-1341 to contact the Employee Assistance Service for Education program, which provides free, short-term counseling to SMC employees who may be experiencing emotional distress.
The SMC Center for Wellness and Wellbeing can be reached at cww@smc.edu, or (310)434-4503, and a 24-
hour student hotline is also available at (800) 691-6003.
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Suicide prevention and crisis resources:
Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network
California Coalition of Youth Crisis Line: (800) 843-5200
