Ong raced against time trying to stop son from fatal mistake

PETALING JAYA: Driven by maternal instinct, Penang-born Ong Li Chin raced against time in bid to save her son Elliot Rodger from making any fatal mistakes.

Ong rushed to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles together with her ex-husband Peter Rodger after watching her son’s “retribution” video outlining his plan to slaughter women at a sorority house at the University of California - Santa Barbara.

Ong had reportedly alerted the police and 911, but they were too late to stop the rampage that left six people dead and 13 wounded in the massacre on Friday.

Ong had also reportedly suspected something amiss and alerted the authorities as far back as in April after coming across disturbing videos posted by her son on Youtube.

Ong had reportedly called Elliot’s therapists after failing to contact him last month. The police was alerted following a call to the Santa Barbara mental health hotline in April, but they did not find anything amiss after paying Elliot a visit at this house in Isla Vita on April 30.

The police had then reassured Ong that her son was all right.

Composer Helen Yap, who is a friend of Ong, said the unfortunate tragedy could have been averted if the police had taken the matter seriously last month.

“And this tragedy would have been averted if the United States outlawed guns,” he said.

Many share her feelings.

Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher died in the attack, slammed lawmakers and the gun lobby after the tragedy.

“Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA,” Martinez said, raising his voice.

“They talk about gun rights. What about Chris’s right to live? When will this insanity stop?“

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said authorities had been alerted in of the concerns about Rodger.

Looking back, “we certainly, you know, wish that we could turn the clock back and maybe change some things,” Brown said in an interview on CBS television’s “Face the Nation.”

Brown said the case would renew debate about the easy availability of firearms.

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