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Frederick Fucking Chopin
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Published May 25, 2014 FoxNews.com
A father whose son was among the victims killed in a shooting rampage near the University of California at Santa Barbara voiced anger at gun laws while saying his family is “lost and broken.”
"Our son Christopher and six others are dead," Richard Martinez told reporters gathered outside a sheriff's station for a news conference on Saturday, one day after the shootings near the university, where the 20-year-old son was a sophomore. "You don't think it'll happen to your child until it does."
Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, of Los Osos, Calif., was the last of six people killed by suspect Elliot Rodger, 22, before the gunman apparently shot and killed himself, authorities said. Michaels-Martinez was shot in the head while he was getting a snack, police say.
Martinez said he talked to his son just 45 minutes before he died inside the IV Deli Mart in Goleta, where bullet holes and blood could still be seen on Saturday. Michaels-Martinez was an English major who planned to go to London next year and to law school after graduation, his father said.
"Chris was a really great kid," Martinez said. "Ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken."
Martinez choked back tears as he spoke, then grew angrier as he talked about gun laws and lobbyists.
"The talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live?" Martinez said. "When will enough people say: 'Stop this madness! We don't have to live like this! Too many people have died!"
He then punctuated his words as he said, "We should say to ourselves: 'Not! One! More!'" before dissolving into tears and falling to his knees as he stepped from the podium.
The heartfelt plea came the same day as surveillance footage taken from cameras at the IV Deli Mart was released.
In the footage, shoppers are seen running for cover, crouching behind store aisles as glass from refrigerator doors is seen shattering after being struck by a bullet.
A father whose son was among the victims killed in a shooting rampage near the University of California at Santa Barbara voiced anger at gun laws while saying his family is “lost and broken.”
"Our son Christopher and six others are dead," Richard Martinez told reporters gathered outside a sheriff's station for a news conference on Saturday, one day after the shootings near the university, where the 20-year-old son was a sophomore. "You don't think it'll happen to your child until it does."
Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, of Los Osos, Calif., was the last of six people killed by suspect Elliot Rodger, 22, before the gunman apparently shot and killed himself, authorities said. Michaels-Martinez was shot in the head while he was getting a snack, police say.
Martinez said he talked to his son just 45 minutes before he died inside the IV Deli Mart in Goleta, where bullet holes and blood could still be seen on Saturday. Michaels-Martinez was an English major who planned to go to London next year and to law school after graduation, his father said.
"Chris was a really great kid," Martinez said. "Ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken."
Martinez choked back tears as he spoke, then grew angrier as he talked about gun laws and lobbyists.
"The talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live?" Martinez said. "When will enough people say: 'Stop this madness! We don't have to live like this! Too many people have died!"
He then punctuated his words as he said, "We should say to ourselves: 'Not! One! More!'" before dissolving into tears and falling to his knees as he stepped from the podium.
The heartfelt plea came the same day as surveillance footage taken from cameras at the IV Deli Mart was released.
In the footage, shoppers are seen running for cover, crouching behind store aisles as glass from refrigerator doors is seen shattering after being struck by a bullet.
