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Shooting at California Festival Kills at Least 3, Official Says Gilroy Festival Shooting in California Kills at Least 3
(about 1 hour later)
At least three people were killed and several more were injured in a shooting at a garlic festival in Gilroy, Calif., on Sunday, a city councilman said. At least three people were killed and 15 more were injured in a shooting at a garlic festival in Gilroy, Calif., on Sunday, the authorities said.
The councilman, Dion Bracco, said three people had been killed and 12 had been injured in Gilroy, which is about 30 miles southeast of San Jose. He did not know whether the number of injured victims included the three fatalities. A suspect carrying an assault-style rifle was fatally shot by the Gilroy police, the city administrator, Gabriel Gonzalez, said in a statement. Late Sunday evening, the police were continuing to search for a possible accomplice in Gilroy, which is about 30 miles southeast of San Jose.
The number of victims could not immediately be confirmed by the police. “We believe based on witness statements that there was a second individual involved in some way, we just don’t know in what way,” Chief Scot Smithee of the Police Department said at a news conference.
Mr. Bracco added that one suspect was in custody. The shooting happened around 5:40 p.m. local time and the police responded within one minute, Chief Smithee said. To reach the festival, the suspect appeared to have crossed a bordering creek and cut a perimeter fence, he said.
“They don’t know if there were more, so they have to treat it as an active situation,” he said. “We have police out here from as far away as San Jose.” “It’s sort of a nightmare you hope you never have to live in reality,” the chief said.
The shooting took place during the Gilroy Garlic Festival, an annual three-day event held at Christmas Hill Park. Gilroy, a city of about 60,000 people, is a major producer of garlic and is home to agricultural workers and people who commute to technology jobs.The shooting took place during the Gilroy Garlic Festival, an annual three-day event held at Christmas Hill Park. Gilroy, a city of about 60,000 people, is a major producer of garlic and is home to agricultural workers and people who commute to technology jobs.
Marie Blankley, the mayor pro tempore, called the shooting “heartbreaking and tragic” and Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter that it was “nothing short of horrific.”Marie Blankley, the mayor pro tempore, called the shooting “heartbreaking and tragic” and Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter that it was “nothing short of horrific.”
Videos posted on social media showed attendees running past white tents in a grassy field, apparently fleeing the sound of gunshots. People had been told to gather at Gavilan College, a community college on the outskirts of the city. Videos posted on social media showed attendees running past white tents in a grassy field, apparently fleeing. People looking to reunite with friends and family members had been told to gather at Gavilan College, a community college on the outskirts of the city.
The police said on Twitter that there was a shooting but did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were assisting.
Olivia Chiu, 24, a festival attendee from San Francisco, said she and her boyfriend heard gunshots around 5:30 p.m. that seemed to come from a central area near food and merchandise vendors.Olivia Chiu, 24, a festival attendee from San Francisco, said she and her boyfriend heard gunshots around 5:30 p.m. that seemed to come from a central area near food and merchandise vendors.
“Everyone was in a state of panic and trying to escape out of the festival to a safer area,” she said.“Everyone was in a state of panic and trying to escape out of the festival to a safer area,” she said.
She said she and several others ran out of the park and into a neighborhood, where they knocked on doors in search of shelter.She said she and several others ran out of the park and into a neighborhood, where they knocked on doors in search of shelter.
Jonathan Williams, 29, who was raised in Gilroy, was sitting on a hay bale when he heard what he thought were fireworks. When the sound did not stop, he realized they were gunshots — at least 20.Jonathan Williams, 29, who was raised in Gilroy, was sitting on a hay bale when he heard what he thought were fireworks. When the sound did not stop, he realized they were gunshots — at least 20.
He saw lots of people, including children with their parents, running frantically and hiding under anything they could find. “There were people jumping in closed booth tents, hiding under tables,” he said.He saw lots of people, including children with their parents, running frantically and hiding under anything they could find. “There were people jumping in closed booth tents, hiding under tables,” he said.
Peter Leroe-Munoz, a city councilman, said he had volunteered at a booth at the garlic festival and was horrified to learn that the shooting had taken place at the city’s prime event.Peter Leroe-Munoz, a city councilman, said he had volunteered at a booth at the garlic festival and was horrified to learn that the shooting had taken place at the city’s prime event.
“That is our crown jewel in terms of our cultural identity,” he said. “For this kind of tragedy to take place at something so core to our community, it is a tragedy beyond words.”“That is our crown jewel in terms of our cultural identity,” he said. “For this kind of tragedy to take place at something so core to our community, it is a tragedy beyond words.”