Oikos University Shooter Could Face Death Penalty

  One Goh was arraigned Wednesday on seven counts of murder and other charges that could make him eligible for the death penalty for a shooting rampage at Oikos University in Oakland on Monday.          

Goh, 43, a Korean national who lived in Oakland, has admitted to police that he carried out a shooting at the Christian vocational school that left seven people dead and three people injured, according to a probable cause statement filed in court by Oakland police Officer Robert Trevino.         

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said the motive for the shooting isn't totally clear but it appears that he wanted his tuition back after he voluntarily left the school last November and he was targeting an administrator there.          

However, the administrator wasn't there when Goh went to the school Monday morning, O'Malley said. She didn't disclose the administrator's name.

Trevino said in his statement that Goh admitted that he went to Oikos, which is located at 7850 Edgewater Drive, armed with a .45-caliber handgun and four fully-loaded magazines of ammunition. The shooting started around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Trevino said.          

Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan, who joined O'Malley at a news conference at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse after Goh was arraigned, said it appears that Goh fired most of his ammunition but an exact count of the bullets that were fired hasn't been completed yet.          

There are at least 10 rounds in each magazine for a .45-caliber handgun, he said.  

"We can't recall a crime scene such as this in Alameda County. The enormity and devastation of these crimes is unprecedented," O'Malley said.          

O'Malley said witnesses have told authorities that Goh was "a loner and what some might call a loser" but hadn't exhibited any behavior that indicated that he might go on a shooting spree.          

Asked if the incident could have been prevented, O'Malley said, "Other than stopping the proliferation of handguns and other types of firearms that allow people acting on their own to commit mass murder, no one could have predicted this would happen."          

In addition to seven counts of murder, Goh is charged with three counts of premeditated attempted murder and 10 special circumstance allegations that could result in the death penalty if he's convicted.          

Seven of those allegations are for committing multiple murders and one each are for committing a murder during a robbery, murder during a carjacking and murder during a kidnapping.         

O'Malley said her office won't make a decision on seeking the death penalty for Goh until after a preliminary hearing is held to determine if there's enough evidence to have him stand trial.

-Bay City News