On June 7, 2013, in Santa Monica, California, 55-year-old Samir Zawahri was fatally shot multiple times by his younger son, 23-year-old John Zawahri, at their residence on Yorkshire Avenue. John also killed his older brother, 24-year-old Christopher Zawahri, with a single gunshot to the chest. After committing these murders, John set their family home ablaze.
Following the arson, John Zawahri embarked on a shooting spree across Santa Monica.
He carjacked a woman at gunpoint, directing her to drive to Santa Monica College. Along the route, he fired at a city bus, injuring three passengers, and shot at a police cruiser. Upon reaching the college campus, he continued his rampage, resulting in additional fatalities and injuries. The violence concluded when police officers fatally shot John Zawahri during an exchange of gunfire in the college library.
In the aftermath of the incident, authorities conducted a thorough investigation to understand the motives and circumstances leading to the tragic events. Given that the perpetrator, John Zawahri, was deceased, no arrests were made in connection with the shootings. The focus remained on piecing together John's background, mental health history, and the possible reasons behind his actions. Reports indicated that John had a troubled past, including prior threats and an incident in 2006 involving bomb-making materials, which led to his admission to a psychiatric facility.
