Tag: Santa Monica College

SANTA MONICA—On May 12, the Santa Monica College Campus Police released a community safety update revealing that a student was attacked off campus around 8:25 a.m. The unprovoked assault occurred as the student was crossing the intersection of 26th Street and Olympic Boulevard, near the Santa Monica College Center for Media and Design.

Officers from the Santa Monica Fire Department and the Santa Monica Police Department were dispatched to the scene, and the student was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. The SMPD is seeking the suspect, believed to be a homeless person.

The suspect approached the student and struck him in the shoulder which caused him to fall to the pavement, ABC 7 Los Angeles first reported. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details about the suspect has been released. Anyone with information about the assault should contact the SMPD at (310) 456-8495.

The Santa Monica College Police Department advised students and staff to take steps to protect themselves by staying aware of their environment, reporting suspicious activity to the proper authorities and to not leave building doors open, and make sure windows and office doors are locked and closed. Avoid empty areas of the city, and if an emergency occurs, call 9-1-1. Police can also be contacted via the Corsair Alert Safety App or by calling the campus police at (310) 434-4300.

Canyon News reached out to the Santa Monica Police Department for comment put did not hear back before publication.

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, February 3, the Santa Monica Board of Trustees met to discuss the $16.7 million budget deficit Santa Monica College (SMC) is operating under. SMC has roots in the community dating back to 1929, during the Great Depression. The campus faces the prospect of having to lay off close to 70 employees, where the Santa Monica College Annual Report 2024-2025 indicates they need to hire more personnel to oversee incoming grants. Canyon News spoke to Santa Monica College’s Director of Public Information Grace A. Smith, about the possibility of a hiring freeze. “Yes, there has been a hiring freeze except for positions deemed essential to fulfill a vital function since last year, due to an ongoing large structural deficit and a decline in revenue. Enrollment and many other factors including volatility in the state funding,” said Smith. In the California Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget, the state discontinued funding that directly impacted Santa Monica College. SMC is a recipient of a $200,000 grant CA Learning Labs’ Ai FAST Challenge to support professional development for faculty incorporating AI into their curriculum. SMC are the benefactors of a $355K grant through United Way for brand new training for students to become skilled in street outreach or working directly with the homeless. The training will be for outreach workers, case managers and housing navigators to help a community with approximately 72,000 unhoused individuals. “The demand for trained professionals has never been greater. As we prepare to welcome our second cohort in February, this funding allows us to do what our community needs most, prepare a skilled, compassionate workforce to support individuals experiencing homelessness. Our students and faculty are answering that call with heart, purpose and dedication,” said President-Superintendent of SMC Dr. Katheryne E. Jeffrey. “Helping our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness requires a caring compassionate, and well-trained workforce. Investing in Santa Monica College’s Homeless Service Work Certificate is an opportunity to invest in training a vital workforce but also to invest in solutions form homelessness. This program will equip sector professionals with the skills, training and support they need to transform community care into lasting solutions. This is how we strengthen systems, uplift people, and create a Los Angeles where everyone has an opportunity to thrive,” said Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way Of Great Los Angeles. Applications for the Second Cohort of Certificate Program will be accepted through February 6th.   By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, October 16, the employee who was shot during a shooting at Santa Monica College has died, Lt. Erika Aklufi with the Santa Monica Police Department confirmed to Canyon News.

Santa Monica College (SMC) Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson, 54, of Newman, Georgia was fatally injured following a shooting that occurred at the SMC Center for Media & Design (CMD) on Monday, October 14. Hudson was transported by first responders to a local area hospital where she passed away from her injuries at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16.

The SMPD released information confirming that the suspect behind this incident was apprehended by law enforcement near El Segundo Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in Hawthorne. He was found deceased inside his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. SMPD detectives identified Davon Durell Dean, a custodian at the college, as the suspected shooter.

The SMPD is leading this ongoing investigation, and additional updates will be coming from SMPD. Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact SMPD at 310-458-8491. No additional suspects are involved, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic loss of our colleague Felicia Hudson, who served the college for nearly three decades with dedication and heart. She took great pride in being a steadfast coworker and leader,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery. “To Felicia’s family, loved ones and friends, SMC extends our heartfelt condolences and prayers. The college will be conducting a thorough review of this incident. SMC is providing crisis counseling services to employees and students as we grieve our irreplaceable colleague.”

In an email to the college community, Dr. Jeffery shared that the Santa Monica College Foundation has established a legacy fund in collaboration with Hudson’s family: foundation.smc.edu/felicia-hudson.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News via email that a suspect involved in a shooting at Santa Monica College on October 14 has died.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has confirmed that a Santa Monica College (SMC) Custodial Operations Manager was critically injured following a shooting that occurred at the SMC Center for Media & Design (CMD), 1660 Stewart Street, at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD) Chief Johnnie Adams stated, “As we try to make sense of this horrific act of workplace violence, the safety of our community is our primary focus. We are deeply grateful to SMCPD personnel and all our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to apprehend the suspect.”

“To help our community through this very difficult time, SMC will be providing…counseling and mental/emotional support,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery in an October 15 message to the community. “At this heartbreaking time, I urge us all to come together in kindness and compassion as we navigate this unspeakable tragedy.”

On the evening of the shooting, SMPD, SMCPD, and Santa Monica Fire Department personnel arrived quickly to render aid and secure the campus. The suspect fled immediately after the shooting and remained at large overnight. The victim was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition.

After a swift and thorough investigation, SMPD Detectives identified Davon Durell Dean, 39, an SMC employee, as the suspected shooter. He has a history of arrests including for attempt murder in 2011 and an assault with a deadly weapon, a firearm, in 2019. His only convictions were for misdemeanor property crimes in the past.

On October 15, at approximately 3 p.m., officers with the Hawthorne Police Department, located the suspect’s vehicle near El Segundo Boulevard and Aviation Boulevard. After a short pursuit, a pursuit intervention technique was used to stop the suspect’s vehicle.

Despite the efforts of the Hawthorne Police Department’s Crisis Negotiations Team, Durrell was found deceased inside his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Los Angeles County Coroner will be responding.

The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are working to determine the full sequence of events leading to the incident. There are no known additional suspects involved and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

“I am so proud of our detectives who worked tirelessly throughout the night in collaboration with our partners at the Santa Monica College Police Department to identify and locate the suspect in this tragic incident. Our officers’ commitment to the safety of the Santa Monica community is evident and remains paramount,” said Police Chief Ramon Batista.

By Trevor