10/16 update: Local police confirmed that a Santa Monica College custodial operations manager remains critically injured following a shooting that occurred at the SMC Center for Media & Design. The suspect, another SMC employee, was later found dead via a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a short pursuit. There are no known additional suspects involved.
All Santa Monica College campuses are closed on Oct. 15 following a shooting at the SMC Center for Media & Design, which houses NPR affiliate KCRW(FM).
Police report that, just before 10 p.m. on Monday, a Santa Monica College employee was shot at the media center located at 1660 Stewart Street. Officials said the individual was transported to a local area hospital in critical condition, and the suspect remains at large.
On its website, SMC’s chief of police says, “This was a workplace violence incident, not a random act.”
Connie Alvarez, KCRW’s director of communications, told Radio World, “We are currently operating remotely and using slightly modified programming this morning.” There was no further comment.
There is no indication that KCRW was involved in the incident other than being collocated in the same building and being near crime scene tape, according to an anonymous tip. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating.
October 14th Santa Monica College Shooting: SMPD believes the shooting is an isolated incident and there is no information suggesting there is a threat to the community. We will be providing extra patrols around our schools to further our connection with our students and their… pic.twitter.com/AfFiK3z9Bb
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) October 15, 2024
According to its website, KCRW is National Public Radio’s flagship member station in Southern California, broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif., where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming on 89.9 MHz, in addition to programming from NPR and other affiliates.