At Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, at least 11 shot, three dead.
4 min read
At the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California, at least three people were killed in a shooting, authorities said Sunday night. There was gradual warning that a suspect was in prison.
Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County Public Health System said, after the shooting at one of the largest food festivals in the United States, minimum 11 people were taken to two hospitals in fair to severe condition. Gilroy City Council member Dion Bracco and a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told that three people had been marked dead.
The San Francisco division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was reacting to the scene in Gilroy, around 30 miles southeast of San Jose. The festival was near to the end of its third and final day when the gunshots were reported at about 5:30 p.m.
Videos from the scene showed people running and screaming across the festival grounds.
A witness, Julissa Contreras, told that she saw a white man in his early to mid-30s firing a rifle that was “able to shoot three to four shots a second.”
She added, “It was just rapid firing”. “I could see him shooting in just every direction. He wasn’t aiming at anyone specifically. It was just left to right, right to left.”
The hearts of Gilroy PD and whole community recede to the sufferers of today’s shooting at the Garlic Festival. The scene can still memorize. If you are looking for a loved one, please go to the reunification center at Gavilan College at parking lot B. #GilroyActiveshooter
“He definitely was prepared for what he was doing,” she added.
Maximo Rocha, a volunteer with the Gilroy Browns, a Pop Warner youth football team, said he saw many people lying on the ground, although he couldn’t be sure how many may have been shot and how many may have been trying to protect themselves.
But he told that “quite a few” of them were injured in some fashion, “because I helped a few.”
Gloria Parker, another witness, told the station that she and other people began running when they heard 10 to 15 bangs that they firstly thought were firecrackers.
“There were tons of cops there,” she said.
No further information was instantly available.11 shot, three dead, at Gilroy Garlic Festival in California
There was no immediate indication that a suspect was in custody at one of the largest food
Trump and lawmakers respond to shooting
President Trump has been told on the shooting in Gilroy and claims that the shooter has yet to be detained. “Be careful and safe!” Mr. Trump wrote.
Law Enforcement is at the scene of shootings in Gilroy, California. Reports are that shooter has not yet been apprehended. Be careful and safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris of California and previously worked as San Francisco District Attorney, also tweeted about the shooting, calling it “simply horrific.”
Simply horrific. I’m grateful to the first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy, and my thoughts are with that community tonight. Our country has a gun violence epidemic that we cannot tolerate. https://t.co/WqWNxGAQnA
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 29, 2019
California Government Gavin Newsom echoed Harris’ statement and said that the state “stands with the Gilroy community.”
This is nothing short of horrific. Tonight, CA stands with the Gilroy community. My office is monitoring the situation closely. Grateful for the law enforcement’s efforts and their continued work as this situation develops. https://t.co/GrtHjtCEz7
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 29, 2019
FBI and ATF responds to Gilroy shooting
The ATF office in San Francisco is replying to the reported shooting, according to a tweet Sunday night. The FBI is also supporting.
BREAKING: ATF’s San Francisco Field Division is responding to the scene of a reported shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California. pic.twitter.com/fyMR5ZP9r7
— ATF San Francisco (@ATFSanFrancisco) July 29, 2019
Gilroy police set up reunification services
The Gilroy Police Department have set up services meant to help reunite those who were at the Garlic Festival with their loved ones, as well as a phone number and reunification center at Gavilan College in parking lot B.
Witness line and family reunification line: 408-846-0583.
If you saw something today please call that number immediately.
Please keep the main GPD line for emergencies only.
Media please do not call that line. A media line will be posted soon.— Gilroy Police (@GilroyPD) July 29, 2019
