Updated: Local Officials React to Bin Laden's Death

Osama Bin Laden is dead, announced President Barack Obama in a television address Sunday night, and local officials have responded with their reactions.

"I am quite surprised," said San Marino City Councilman Dennis Kneier on Monday. "I thought that he was dead long before this; that he had died from kidney problems or whatever. ... I think this was a proper ending to a sad story."

Bin Laden's death comes almost 10 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that were attributed to the al-Qaida leader and his followers.

"His death was the result of a U.S. operation launched today in Abbottabad, Pakistan, against a compound where bin Laden was believed to be hiding, according to U.S. intelligence," the Huffington Post reported Sunday night. "After a firefight, a small team of American forces killed bin Laden and took possession of his body, the president said."

Kneier's daughter had an internship across from the World Trade Center in 2001 and left New York exactly one month before 9/11, Kneier said. Until recently, Kneier's daughter, who now works for Merrill Lynch, worked next to ground zero. She declined to comment to Patch about bin Laden's death.

"I am always pleased to have resolution of things," said Councilman Kneier. "I’m a little dismayed that people are jumping around and celebrating and all of this. It’s still a death."

San Marino Rotary Club President Robert Nafie said Monday that Rotary International had not yet released an official statement of reaction to bin Laden's death.

"I can’t speak for our club but I’m sure most Rotarians would be happy to see some resolution to that particular individual situation," said Nafie. "Certainly Osama bin Laden represents the original al-Qaida terrorist in our mind so we would like to see justice done obviously throughout the whole justice system. Whether it lessens or enhances world brotherhood, time will tell, but certainly it’s something that supports our men and women in harm’s way."

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, congratulated the President and his national security team in a statement Sunday night.

"At long last, the world is rid of a despicable mass murderer and the victims of September 11th have obtained a measure of justice. This is a tremendous day for the men and women of our armed forces, our intelligence agencies and all Americans.

This is not the end of the struggle against al Qaeda, and we must redouble our vigilance in the days ahead.  But after a decade of waiting, this is wonderful news."

Below is a list of 9/11 victims who had hometowns in California at the time of their death. Two of the 48 victims were from nearby Pasadena. 

This key helps explain where victims were when they died:

American 11 - Am 11 - flew into the World Trade Center North Tower
American 77 - Am 77 - flew into the Pentagon
United 93 Un 93 - crashed in Pennsylvania
United 175 Un 175 - flew into the World Trade Center South Tower
"WTC" and "Ptn" refers to someone who was inside, or occupying, the World Trade Center or the Pentagon when their respective attacks occurred

9/11 Victims from California: