Lawyer: Family had worries about suspected shooter...Suspect charged in Indy shooting...VA to let vets go to private clinics

GOLETA, Calif. (AP) — A lawyer says worried family members recently took their concerns about the son of Hollywood director Peter Rodger to police, after becoming alarmed over videos mentioning suicide and killing. Now, family attorney Alan Shifman says the family believes Elliot Rodger is the person who shot six people to death last night in Santa Barbara County before dying of a gunshot wound. Shifman says police interviewed the young man and found him "perfectly polite" and kind, with no history of guns. Authorities haven't confirmed the identity of the suspect.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of a race fan in a parking lot near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Authorities say Avory Johnson of Indianapolis is being held without bond on a charge of murder in the death of 25-year-old Max Levine of Kokomo. Police say the shooting took place early today in a parking lot across the street from the speedway, where Indy 500 race fans have set up tents and partied on race weekend for decades.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will allow more veterans to obtain health care at private hospitals and clinics. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki (shin-SEHK'-ee) announced the change today. It's an idea Arizona Sen. John McCain and other lawmakers have been pushing following reports that veterans have died while awaiting treatment at VA centers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has canceled military exercises with Thailand as a result of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country. A Pentagon spokesman says the U.S. has had a long and productive military relationship with Thailand, but U.S. law and democratic principles require the U.S. to reconsider those ties. Seven-hundred U.S. troops participate in the annual naval exercises, which include sailors, marines, ships and aircraft.

BERLIN (AP) — The leaders of Germany and France have called Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine on the eve of elections there. The office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN'-geh-lah MEHR'-kuhl) says the three leaders agreed that the presidential election should take place peacefully in as many parts of Ukraine as possible. Pro-Russian insurgents are expected to prevent voting in half or more of the election districts in Ukraine's embattled east.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.