On Friday, May 24th, Elliot O. Rodger went on a killing rampage in Isla Vista, 13 miles aways from University of California, Santa Barbara. Police described the incident as “premeditated”, for he had been intricately planning how he would get his “revenge” for a couple years. Rodger had written a 141-page manifesto, and posted vlogs onto Youtube, in which he states that he first planned the “Day of Retribution” to occur on Halloween of 2013, but then pushed it Halloween 2014, then April 26, and finally, May 24th.

According to the NY times, Rodger’s rampage began with the brutal stabbing of his two roommates Cheng Yuan Hong, 20, and George Chen, 19, along with a student visiting their apartment, Weihan Wang, 20, reported the Sheriff’s department on Sunday. Rodger planned this as “first phase” in order to “clear the apartment for myself”, he wrote in his manifesto. Mr. Hong was an engineering student who came from Taipei, Taiwan, and Mr. Chen was a Canadian computer science student. Both being foreign students, most neighbors spoke kind words of how they would keep to themselves. NY Times interviewed one of the residents in the apartment complex Rodger lived in, Chris Pollard, 22, and said “They were very nice, genuine guys. They were good kids. They went to school and studied a lot. They didn’t do anything bad.”

Rodger then preceded to a nearby sorority house, Alpha Phi, which Rodger believed had “the most beautiful girls”, and shot three women passing by while standing at the door of the sorority. Of the three, Veronika Weiss, 19, and Katie Cooper, 22, unfortunately passed. The third unidentified woman, is expected to live.

Students and teammates of Veronkia Weiss described her as dedicated and kind, as well as a vital member of the UCSB water polo team. A fellow water polo team member, Christine Galvin, spoke to the NY Times and recounted Veronika as “very sweet and friendly to all the girls on the team — very committed, a good team player.”

Ms. Weiss’ sorority sister, Katie Cooper, was an art history major at UCSB. In an interview with the NY Times, Faris Barud, 20, described Cooper as “always very happy, very inclusive — that’s just the kind of person she was.”

Christopher Martinez, an English major at UCSB stopped by at IV Deli Mart in Isla Vista, was the last of Rodger’s victims to pass away. Martinez was shot and killed while entering the Deli, along with another 13 who were injured by Rodger’s reckless shooting and driving.

Robert Martinez, Martinez’s father gave a heart wrenching statement concerning the controversial subject around gun laws.

“Our family has a message for every parent out there: You don’t think it will happen to your child until it does,” Martinez’s father began, raising his voice to express his rage and agony.

In hope to spark and help fuel the prevention of gun violence, Robert Martinez continued, “Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the [National Rifle Association]. They talk about gun rights — what about Chris’ right to live?” he continued. “When will this insanity stop? When will enough people say stop this madness, we don’t have to live like this? Too many have died. We should say to ourselves — not one more.”

In an interview with CNN, Martinez’s father spoke on why he decided to give the statement proclaiming, “if there are all these things in the media about the shooter, and there is nothing about the victims then it sends the wrong message. And that people need to understand, that real people died here.”

Students, parents, families are all coming together and giving all the support they can to the victims and their families. NBC news reported May 27 to be UCSB’s “Day of Mourning and Reflection”, in addition to their vigil held on May 26. Gun shots through the windows of the IV Deli Mart are now filled with flowers, along with growing memorials at the Alpha Chi Sorority house, IV Deli Mart, and the apartment complex.In light of this awful incident, as a community, everyone is doing their best to hopefully prevent this from happening again, while giving victims’ families their utmost respect and kindness, uniting people together and creating a stronger community.