SMC Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson Has Passed Away

Dear SMC Community:

I write to share the heart-breaking news that our colleague, Santa Monica College (SMC) Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson, was fatally injured following the shooting that occurred at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus on Monday night, October 14, 2024.

First responders transported Felicia to a local area hospital where she passed away from her injuries at approximately 5:00 p.m. today, October 16. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to Felicia’s family, loved ones and friends.

There are no words to express our grief at losing a colleague who served this institution with tremendous dedication and heart for nearly three decades. The college is providing grief/crisis counselling for employees and students as we try to make sense of this horrific act of workplace violence. In the days ahead, SMC will be conducting an in-depth analysis of this incident.

In collaboration with Felicia’s family, the Santa Monica College Foundation has established a legacy fund: foundation.smc.edu/felicia-hudson. A sunset vigil will be held in her memory on Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. on the Main Campus Quad; a Celebration of Life will follow on Friday, October 18, 10 a.m., at the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center.

Yesterday, the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) released information confirming that the suspect in this incident was apprehended by law enforcement near El Segundo Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in the City of Hawthorne. He was found deceased inside his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. SMPD detectives identified SMC employee Davon Durell Dean as the suspected shooter.

Should any additional information about the investigation be released, it will be provided by SMPD, the lead investigating agency. Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491. As more updates become available, they will be posted on the college’s official X account @SMC_edu and on the online newsroom at smc.edu/announcements.

All of the college’s classes, services, and business operations have pivoted to a remote, online environment for the period: Wednesday, October 16 – Sunday, October 20, 2024. Please continue to monitor your SMC email for up-to-date information.

Working through the loss of an irreplaceable colleague whose life was cut short in such a tragic way is going to be a challenging process. We will always honor Felicia’s memory and will mourn this inexplicable loss for a very long time.

Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President