2001 Isla Vista killings
| Date | February 23, 2001 |
|---|---|
| Location | Isla Vista, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°24′37″N 119°51′14″W / 34.4104°N 119.8538°WCoordinates: 34°24′37″N 119°51′14″W / 34.4104°N 119.8538°W |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
| Suspect(s) | David Attias |
| Charges | Murder, driving under the influence |
| Convictions | Four counts of second-degree murder |
On February 23, 2001, a vehicular homicide and assault occurred in the student community of Isla Vista, California, near the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus. Four people were killed and a fifth, who suffered critical injuries, died in October 2016. The driver, David Attias, was ruled legally insane and sentenced to 60 years at a mental institution. In September 2012 the court approved Attias' conditional release into a monitored program.
On the evening of February 23, 2001, just after 11:00 p.m., UCSB student David Attias, the 18-year-old son of television director Dan Attias, drove his father's 1991 Saab 9000 down the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde Road at a speed of 50 to 65 miles per hour. Four pedestrians were killed and one was critically injured. According to a police statement, "All five victims were thrown forward, some being knocked out of their shoes and socks."
According to witnesses, Attias got out and yelled "I am the Angel of Death!". He continued to taunt a growing crowd, until he was subdued by the first CHP officer that arrived on the scene.. In the initial aftermath, it was unclear if Attias was affected by taking drugs, or if the attack was intentional. Blood tests later showed that Attias was under the influence of marijuana and Lidocaine, neither deemed significant to the incident.
Four people were killed in the assault: 20-year-old UCSB students Nicholas Bourdakis and Christopher Divis, 27-year-old San Francisco resident Elie Israel, and 20-year-old Santa Barbara City College student Ruth Levy. Albert Arthur Levy, 27, brother to Ruth, was critically injured but survived. His injuries consisted of crushed legs and a severely battered head.
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. Residents of his hall told police and the campus paper that Attias had been known for his erratic behavior, including stalking another student. Several students referred to him as "Crazy Dave" and "Tweaker." The case received additional media attention because David Attias is the son of Dan Attias, a prominent Hollywood TV director. Attias pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and his trial sparked significant interest.
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