On October 14, 2024, a tragic incident occurred at Santa Monica College in California, resulting in the death of 54-year-old Felicia Hudson. Hudson, who had dedicated nearly three decades to the institution as a custodial operations manager, was shot by her co-worker, 39-year-old custodian Davon Durell Dean, at the college's Center for Media and Design. The shooting was classified by officials as a "workplace violence incident."
Following the attack, Dean fled the scene.
Law enforcement officers later located his vehicle near Hawthorne, south of Santa Monica. Upon attempting to apprehend him, they discovered that Dean had died by suicide inside his car. Investigations revealed that Dean had a criminal history, including arrests in 2011 for attempted murder and in 2019 for assault with a deadly weapon; however, he was only convicted of misdemeanor property crimes.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Santa Monica College closed its campuses on Tuesday to facilitate the investigation but reopened on Wednesday. The college community mourned the loss of Hudson, with Superintendent and President Kathryn E. Jeffery expressing deep sorrow over the passing of a dedicated colleague and leader. Authorities have stated that there are no additional suspects involved and no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active as detectives work to piece together the events leading up to this tragic incident.
