Community Corner

Fifth Santa Monica Shooting Victim ID'd

Margarita Gomez was known to frequent the Santa Monica College campus, even though she was not a student there.

A woman killed on the steps of the Santa Monica College Library was identified Monday as Margarita Gomez.

Gomez, believed to be in her 60s, was known to frequent the campus to collect cans and bottles for recycling and interact with faculty and students, according to her niece and SMC officials.

Gomez was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church. She was honored Sunday at a prayer service, where her niece broke down in tears while speaking in Spanish.

"I felt she was my second mother," the niece said. "We do not know what to do at this point."

Following the service, nearly 80 friends and members of the community lined up to console the woman and the Franco family, who also attended St. Anne's.

Gloria Ayala told the Los Angeles Daily News that she was riding on Big Blue Bus No. 7, which was shot at by John Zawahri, 23, before he made his way to Santa Monica College.

At the campus, Zawahri fatally shot Gomez on the steps of the SMC library.

"I'm so sad for my friend," Ayala told the newspaper in Spanish. "We met every Thursday at the park with others from the senior center and she was always so active."L.A. Weekly reported that she had a smile for everyone, including the shooter.

Did you know Margarita Gomez? Tell us about her in the comments.



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