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OC shooter was avid video gamer - Los Angeles

Motive for killings remains a mystery.


A young man who went on a shooting spree last week, killing three people before turning the gun on himself, was an avid video gamer according to his family. Ali Syed went on a shooting spree last Tuesday, during which he committed several assaults, murders, and carjackings, before shooting himself to death.

Ali Syed went on a shooting spree last Tuesday. He killed three people as well as himself.

Ali Syed went on a shooting spree last Tuesday. He killed three people as well as himself.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Orange County Sheriff's Department is releasing some details about Ali Syed, 20, who went on a shooting rampage that killed three others on Tuesday. They are reporting that Syed was an avid computer gamer who spent most of his time on the computer.

Described as a loner, Syed earned his diploma from Junipero Serra Continuation School and was enrolled in a single class at Saddleback College. He was unemployed and lived at home with his parents who say that he had plenty of time to spend on video games.

Early Tuesday morning, Syed shot and killed a young woman who was in his room. His parents did not know she was there. She was reported to be fully clothed and there were no signs of sexual assault. Syed's parents suggested they may have had an argument when he fatally shot her with a shotgun his father bought him a year earlier.

Syed fled his house in the family SUV and began a spree which would result in two other deaths of innocent bystanders, including a man who stopped to help Syed after he wrecked another vehicle he had stolen on is rampage.

Syed also shot at motorists as they drove on the freeway.

Eventually he was spotted by the Highway Patrol and during their pursuit he jumped from his vehicle and shot himself in the head, dying instantly. 

Authorities still have no motive for his actions. There are no letters, emails or other details which may suggest why he acted as he did.

The killings add more fuel to the national debate over gun laws and what should be done to better protect people from gun violence, if anything at all.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: Ali Syed, shooter, killings, spree, gun control, video games

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