Elliot Rodger Mass Killing Victims Named
Family and friends pay tribute to the victims of Friday's mass shooting in a California beachfront community.
Saturday 24 May 2014 19:12, UK
Family and friends have been paying tribute to the victims of Friday's mass shooting in a California beachfront community.
Hollywood filmmaker's son Elliot Rodger stabbed three men to death in his apartment before killing three more victims as he targeted the town of Isla Vista's Alpha Phi sorority and fired indiscriminately at groups of people socialising.
Veronika Weiss, 19, and Katie Cooper, 22 - sisters at UCSB's Delta Delta Delta sorority - were shot dead near their college campus, while Christopher Martinez, 20, was killed when Rodger fired into a busy deli.
Thousands of mourners gathered for a vigil in Isla Vista at University of California, Santa Barbara on Saturday evening.
The students and community members sang Amazing Grace and converged at a local park.
In his disturbing 141-page manifesto, My Twisted World, and in YouTube videos, Rodger had vented his rage at the women who had spurned him.
But the father of Veronika Weiss told the New York Daily News his daughter would not have shunned the loner.
"My daughter would probably have been a friend to him because of the way she was," he was quoted as telling the newspaper.
"She was always drawn to the ones with the broken wings. She was the opposite of what he thought he was shooting.
"She was the kind who would have reached out to him. She reached out to the kids who weren't the most popular or the cutest."
Richard Martinez, Christopher's father, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his son.
"When will this insanity stop?" he asked in an emotional speech.
"Our family has a message for every parent out there: you don't think it'll happen to your child until it does.
"Chris was a really great kid, ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken."
He also lambasted politicians and the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful gun lobby which staunchly opposes firearms controls.
"Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA," Mr Martinez said.
"They talk about gun rights. What about Chris's right to live? When will this insanity stop?"
Chad Scott, a teacher at Ms Weiss' former school Westlake High, wrote on Twitter: "My heart goes out to the family of Veronika Weiss. Veronika was a Westlake graduate killed in yesterday's UCSB shooting. Rest in peace."
Bree Casas posted a picture on Facebook of the two women together and said: "I couldn't have asked for better sisters in my life."
Ms Cooper's friend, Courtney Benjamin, said: "She was a self-proclaimed princess and I love her for that. I know she has a crown on her head today."
Mr Martinez's friend Spencer Baker said on Twitter: "Tonight we remember our fellow Gauchos, and most importantly our dear friend, Chris Martinez. Rest easy, man."
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