2001 Isla Vista killings
 | This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. (October 2009) |
The Isla Vista Massacre was an intentional vehicular assault which occurred in the student community of Isla Vista, California near the University of California, Santa Barbara campus.
On the evening of February 23, 2001, just after 11pm UCSB student David Attias drove his 1991 Saab down the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde Road at high speed into nine parked cars and five pedestrians, killing four and critically injuring a fifth.[1] Attias ran the stop sign at the intersection of Sabado Tarde and Camino Pescadero at around 50 mph, during peak hours for foot traffic in Isla Vista. After slamming his Saab into two parked vehicles, he swerved and hit the pedestrians, sideswiping seven other vehicles in his attempt.[2]
When his vehicle came to a stop, Attias got out and began (or continued, reports vary about whether he was yelling while driving) shouting about darkness and government plots, according to witnesses, he yelled "I am the Angel of Death!" and attempted to pick up victim Ruth Levy by the arm, but quickly lost interest, as he was surrounded by bystanders.[3]
Police arrived shortly after the incident, and had to extricate Attias from a growing crowd of bystanders, for fear of retaliation by the crowd. An unidentified first responder administered CPR to Arthur Levy, the sole surviving victim.[4] In the initial aftermath, it was unclear if drugs were involved, as well as if the attack was intentional. Blood tests later showed that Attias was under the influence of marijuana and Lidocaine, neither were deemed significant to the incident.[5]
Trial
Attias was charged with four counts of murder, four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and five counts of felony driving under the influence.[6] Residents of his hall told police and the campus paper that Attias had been known for his erratic behavior, including stalking of another student.[7] Several students referred to him, with rolled eyes, as "Crazy Dave" and "Tweaker." [8]The case received additional media attention because Attias is the son of prominent Hollywood film producer Daniel Attias. Attias plead not guilty by reason of insanity, and the following trial sparked significant interest.[9]
On June 11, 2002, Attias was convicted in a jury trial of four counts of second-degree murder. He was acquitted of driving under the influence.[10] One week later, the same jury found that Attias was legally insane. This resulted in a sentence of up to 60 years at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino. [11]
The case sparked wider debate on how the insanity ruling should apply to the fate of those convicted of murder in California, as it is possible that Attias will ultimately serve a greatly reduced sentence than what his prison term would have been had he not been found insane.[12]
Victims
Four people were killed in the assault: 20-year-old UCSB students Nicholas Bourdakis and Christoper Divis, 27-year-old San Francisco resident Elie Israel, and 20-year-old Santa Barbara City College student Ruth Levy. Albert Levy, 27, brother to Ruth, was critically injured but survived. His injuries consisted of crushed legs and a severely battered head.[13][14]
Memorial
There is a memorial to the victims in Little Acorn Park, which borders on the intersection where they lost their lives.
References
- ^ The Daily Californian
- ^ The Daily Californian
- ^ 'I Am Angel of Death' - Tuesday February 27, 2001 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat
- ^ Grief Lingers In the Wake of Fatal Collision - Daily Nexus
- ^ [[1]]
- ^ Teenager Charged With Murder In Car Deaths / In Isla Vista, friends and family turned out for a vigil at the spot where the victims were killed
- ^ The Daily Bruin - Death of UCSB students should spark awareness on our own campus
- ^ 'I Am Angel of Death' - Tuesday February 27, 2001 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Jury Finds Attias Guilty of Murder" http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=3301, Accessed January 21, 2009.
- ^ "Driver Who Killed 4 Ruled Insane" http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/20/national/main512961.shtml, Accessed January 21, 2009.
- ^ "Murderer Not Guilty By Reason of "I Felt Like It" hhttp://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=1932, Accessed February 8, 2009.
- ^ Grief Lingers In the Wake of Fatal Collision - Daily Nexus
- ^ Teenager Charged With Murder In Car Deaths / In Isla Vista, friends and family turned out for a vigil at the spot where the victims were killed