This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49147369
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Gilroy shooting: Three killed at California garlic festival | Gilroy shooting: Three killed at California garlic festival |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three people have been killed and 15 injured after a gunman attacked a food festival in California. | |
The gunman was shot dead by police shortly after he began firing, although police are investigating reports that a second suspect may still be at large. | |
The Gilroy Garlic Festival was about to end for the weekend on Sunday evening, when shots were fired at the site. | The Gilroy Garlic Festival was about to end for the weekend on Sunday evening, when shots were fired at the site. |
There was "a white man in his early to mid-30s firing a rifle," eyewitness Julissa Contreras told NBC. | There was "a white man in his early to mid-30s firing a rifle," eyewitness Julissa Contreras told NBC. |
The suspect entered the festival after cutting through a perimeter fence with a tool, Gilroy Chief of Police Scot Smithee told reporters. He said witnesses reported that a second suspect may have been involved, possibly in a support role. | |
Officers were already at the site and responded to the shooting in less than a minute, Chief Smithee added. | |
Video posted on social media showed people running away from the festival, which took place 30 miles (48km) south of San Jose. | |
"What's going on?" a woman's voice asks in one video. "Who'd shoot up a garlic festival?" | "What's going on?" a woman's voice asks in one video. "Who'd shoot up a garlic festival?" |
"We couldn't feel worse," Brian Bowe, the festival's executive director, said at a news conference on Sunday. "It's just a horrible thing to experience." | |
"This is nothing short of horrific," tweeted California Governor Gavin Newsom. | "This is nothing short of horrific," tweeted California Governor Gavin Newsom. |
US President Donald Trump also tweeted about the shooting, urging people to "be careful and safe". | US President Donald Trump also tweeted about the shooting, urging people to "be careful and safe". |
Some people are being treated for critical injuries, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara Valley Public Health System said. | |
The Santa Clara County Medical Center has so far admitted five victims, CBS reports. Two patients are being treated at a medical centre at Stanford University, according to CNN. | The Santa Clara County Medical Center has so far admitted five victims, CBS reports. Two patients are being treated at a medical centre at Stanford University, according to CNN. |
Michael Paz, 72, a hat vendor at the festival, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he saw a gunman armed with a rapid-fire assault rifle. | Michael Paz, 72, a hat vendor at the festival, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he saw a gunman armed with a rapid-fire assault rifle. |
"He came ready to shoot because he was wearing a protective vest," Paz said. "He was shooting left; he was shooting right without any particular aim." | "He came ready to shoot because he was wearing a protective vest," Paz said. "He was shooting left; he was shooting right without any particular aim." |
As police swooped on the gunman and shots were fired, festival attendees dropped to the ground, Mr Paz said. | As police swooped on the gunman and shots were fired, festival attendees dropped to the ground, Mr Paz said. |
"It was just rapid firing," Ms Contreras told NBC Bay Area. "I could see him shooting in just every direction. He wasn't aiming at anyone specifically. | "It was just rapid firing," Ms Contreras told NBC Bay Area. "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. He definitely was prepared for what he was doing." | "It was just left to right, right to left. He definitely was prepared for what he was doing." |
Evenny Reyes, 13, was among those who scattered in confusion when gunfire erupted at around 17:30 local time (00:30 GMT Monday). | Evenny Reyes, 13, was among those who scattered in confusion when gunfire erupted at around 17:30 local time (00:30 GMT Monday). |
"We were just leaving and we saw a guy with a bandana wrapped around his leg because he got shot," she told the San Jose Mercury News. | "We were just leaving and we saw a guy with a bandana wrapped around his leg because he got shot," she told the San Jose Mercury News. |
The Gilroy Garlic Festival has been held annually since 1979. The city is a major garlic producer and the event features cooking competitions and live entertainment. | |
Christmas Hill Park, where the event was taking place, bans weapons of any kind, according to the festival's website. | |
Were you in the area? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Were you in the area? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |