BACKGROUND

Santa Monica Shooter Had Troubled History

High school teacher had reported him for looking up gun websites.

John Zawahri, 24, the man accused of going on a rampage at Santa Monica College on Friday that left four people dead before police shot and killed him, had spent time in a mental hospital as a teenager after a teacher reported him for surfing the Internet for assault weapons. Authorities are trying to learn more about why Zawahri, armed with assault weapons, went on the deadly rampage that started with killing his father and brother, and then burning down their house. Meanwhile, Zawahri’s mother, Randa Abdou, issued a statement Monday saying she is “in mourning for my family and those who were also affected by this horrific tragedy.” Police sources said Zawahri had struggled after his parents’ bitter divorce years ago, and a former teacher of Zawahri’s said his mother told her that she was the victim of domestic abuse.