Margarita Gomez was 68 and a Santa Monica resident who died on June 7, 2013, after being shot during a rampage that began at the shooter’s family home and continued onto the Santa Monica College campus. Known for collecting recyclables around the college, Gomez was outside the library that day when the gunman opened fire. She was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and died that afternoon.

The shooter, identified in reports as 23-year-old John Zawahri, reportedly killed his father and brother at their home, set the house on fire, then went to the college armed with a semi-automatic rifle assembled from separately acquired parts. He killed five people in total and was fatally shot by police inside the library. Gomez is remembered by her community for her kindness; a memorial fund was established in her name.

Does anyone have memories of Gomez’s work around the campus or information that could add to the record?