Obama visit goes on despite Santa Monica College shooting

Secret Service officials in town for Friday’s visit of President Obama said they are aware of the shooting at Santa Monica College, but do not expect it to affect his trip.

“We are aware of the incident and it is not impacting the visit,” said Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service. “It’s a local police matter at this point.”

Obama landed at LAX shortly before 11 a.m. and flew by helicopter to Santa Monica Airport, where he was greeted on the Tarmac by the outgoing and incoming mayors of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti.

Garcetti, who takes office July 1, was to ride with the president to a DNC fundraiser at the Santa Monica home of entertainment executive Peter Chernin. A Garcetti aide said the two would have a private meeting in advance of the event.

Obama was speaking at the fundraiser when news of the shooting broke.

Santa Monica College was on lockdown after three people were shot inside a car in or near the campus, according to law enforcement sources. The alleged gunman was detained.

Details about the incident were not immediately available. But the sources said the suspect was wounded in the college library.

Police sources told The Times the three victims were shot inside a car either on the campus or near the campus. Their conditions were unknown.

A staff member at the college superintendent’s office said the campus was being placed on lockdown.

Santa Monica College sent out the following statement: “There have been reports of a shooter on the main SMC campus. The college is on lockdown. This means that if you are on campus, stay out of open spaces, stay indoors, lock all doors and do not open the doors until you receive an all-clear from college officials. If you are off campus, do NOT come to campus.”

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