UC Santa Barbara sophomore Alyssa Hopper ducked and called 911 as a gunman opened fire at an Isla Vista deli Friday night, killing one of six people during a killing spree that spanned several blocks in the seaside community.
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Hopper said she heard more than a dozen shots fired during the drive-by shooting.
“It turned into absolute mayhem,” said 19-year-old Hopper, who can be seen ducking down in surveillance video.
She said the store was filled with people, many fleeing through a rear exit.
"All the people who got stuck in the front were pretty much trapped right there," Hopper said.
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But Hopper, who was not injured by the gunfire, stayed behind to help a victim, 20-year-old UCSB student Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez.
Attempting to save his life, Hopper made a shocking discovery.
“I was giving him CPR, looked down and recognized his face,” Hopper said. “He was the first person I met at freshman orientation.”
Michaels-Martinez died from his wounds.
Hopper returned to the deli Sunday, struggling to step inside knowing she did all she could to save Michaels-Martinez.
