May 24, 2014 10:31 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

A drive-by shooter killed six people on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and then was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

According to KEYT-TV, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office said initial 911 calls came in just before 9:30 p.m. Friday night. Police arrived at an enclave in Isla Vista, a popular student hangout spot.

The suspect killed six and injured seven, one entered surgery. However, Santa Barbara County Sherriff Bill Brown said the suspect engaged in a shootout with his deputies before crashing the car into a parked one. Because of the gunfire, it is unclear if the suspect's fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted or if it came from a deputy.

Browns' office said in a press release authorities strongly believe the attack was a "premeditated mass murder." Additionally, they are reviewing video and written evidence that support this theory and that the suspect acted alone.

Some witnesses said they saw a second person in the black BMW, KEYT-TV reported, but the Sheriff's office would not confirm or deny if they were searching for another suspect. Authorities recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the scene, but there were nine crime scenes in total.

The gunman, who the Sheriff's Office only revealed to be male, withholding his identity, brought the death toll to seven, though the one victim in surgery has a life-threatening injury. Brown said in a Saturday morning news conference the suspect was "severely mentally disturbed."

Brown confirmed that his office was investigating a YouTube video titled "Retribution" in which a man named Elliot Rodger promises to "punish" women who have rejected him over the years. Brown only said his office knew of the video and is investigating a potential connection between Rodger and the crime.

sheriff's office spokeswoman Kelly Hoover told CNN the suspect has been "preliminarily identified" and authorities will release the name when it is confirmed. She also said the victims will not be publicly identified until their next of kin are contacted.

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