Student murder-suicide prompts statement from SDSU official - CBS News 8 - San Diego, CA News Station - KFMB Channel 8

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A San Diego State University vice president said Monday that a murder-suicide involving a student and former student just off campus last week was "tragic and senseless."

James Kitchen, the university's vice president of student affairs, released a statement regarding Friday's deaths of Michel David, 22, and her former boyfriend, Daniel Shoemake, 21.

"The events that resulted in the loss of two young lives last week were both tragic and senseless," Kitchen said. "It's always difficult when a young life is lost. But it is particularly saddening for us when members of the San Diego State University family are involved. As our campus tries to make sense of this tragedy, our hearts go out to family and friends of everyone involved."

Counselors were made available to speak with students affected by the deaths.

David was walking her dog near her College Area apartment in the 4500 block of 55th Street when Shoemake shot her with an assault rifle, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Shoemake then got into his pickup truck and shot himself with a second gun, according to police and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

David's friends told reporters she had dated Shoemake for three years, but the couple had recently broken up.

Friends and family gathered for a candlelight vigil in David's memory on Saturday night outside her apartment.

"It doesn't happen to your family," Greg Savilla, David's granduncle, told reporters at the vigil. "I've heard people say that in interviews. It happens to other families, it doesn't happen to yours, but it happened to ours."

David was supposed to graduate from SDSU next week. Her Facebook profile says she worked as a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory in Chula Vista.

Shoemake's Facebook profile said he was in the Army.

Savilla said David's family was in touch with Shoemake's family and that the two families are relying on each other for support.

David's funeral will be held Friday in Pleasanton, a suburb east of San Francisco, where David and Shoemake were raised, her family said.