Three Dead, Suspect Killed in Shooting at Gilroy Garlic Festival in California

By Alex Johnson, Andrew Blankstein and Alexandra Hess, NBC News

29 July 19

Authorities said a shooter appeared to have cut a fence into the festival. Police said a second possible suspect was being sought.

t least three people were killed, including a 6-year-old boy, and 12 others wounded in a shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California after a suspect wearing tactical gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire, authorities and witnesses said Sunday night.

"It's sort of a nightmare you hope you never have to live in reality," Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said at a news conference.

Smithee said the suspect, who was shot and killed by the police, appeared to be firing "somewhat randomly," and that investigators had no information on a possible motive. He said that police believed a second person may have been involved but that they didn't know in what way. At this time police are not identifying the suspect.

One of those killed was 6-year-old Steven Romero who was at the festival with this mother and grandmother, who were also injured in the shooting.

Those with gunshot wounds went to two hospitals after the shooting at one of the largest food festivals in the United States, said Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County Public Health System. Three had been treated and released late Sunday, and the rest were in fair to critical condition, she said.

Eight more people were injured in other ways at the popular festival — a three-day food fair featuring producers and live entertainment that began in 1979 to celebrate the local garlic industry, she said.

Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco declared a proclamation of a local emergency early Monday morning, as the investigation into the shooting continues.

Gilroy City Council member Dion Bracco and a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told NBC News that three people had been pronounced dead.

"I would ask for the thoughts and prayers of the community as our officers continue to investigate this tragic and senseless crime," Mayor Roland Velasco said.

The San Francisco Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was responding to the scene in Gilroy, about 30 miles southeast of San Jose. The festival was near the end of its third and final day when the gunshots were reported at about 5:41 p.m., said Smithee, who added that the gunman appeared to have cut through a fence to get into the event.

Julissa Contreras, a witness who said she was a former police cadet, said in an interview Sunday night that she saw "your average white guy" firing what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle, "kind of just going left to right and shooting whoever he could, honestly."

Contreras said the man, who she said didn't say anything, paused and appeared to reload.

"He definitely shot off more than 30 rounds," she said. "It was just like nonstop — just like two, three, four shots a second."

Contreras described the man as in his 30s, wearing a cap, sports sunglasses and what appeared to military-style clothing.

"He looked like, oh, he could work private security," she said. "But he had, like, straps and clips, and he was completely prepared for what he was doing. Absolutely."

Maximo Rocha, a volunteer with the Gilroy Browns, a Pop Warner youth football team, said he saw many people 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.

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

But he told NBC Bay Area 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 initially thought were firecrackers.

"There was tons of cops there," she said.

Another eyewitness, Ryan Wallace, who was working at the event as a vendor, told NBC Bay Area that the shooter was dressed in police-style uniform and was "spraying out rounds all around" while "walking like a police, like he wanted to get stuff done."

Cheryl Low and Candice Marquez, who were also working at the festival when the shooting occurred, told "Today" on Monday morning they were only about 10 to 15 feet away from the shooter when they noticed him.

Low's boss and her boss' husband were both shot and brought to the hospital, the latter hit three times and now in critical condition. Low’s granddaughter, in a nearby tent, helped shield the three-year old son of her grandma's boss during the shooting.

“She was a hero,” Marquez said. “She grabbed him and saved his life.”

Addressing suggestions that security at the event could have been tighter, Contreras said: "Honestly, security was great. They weren't extremely invasive, but they checked my fanny pack and my backpack, and I felt they were thorough.

"You know, metal detectors are not going to really deter or do anything to someone who's carrying a semiautomatic rifle that's very visible," she said.

Contreras said she wasn't particularly shocked by the shooting.

"It's a shame that it's happening, but I think this is just a reflection of the current political climate, wherein people are feeling more comfortable being violent," she said.

"This is the America we live in now, which I'm kind of ashamed to say as a U.S. citizen."

The garlic festival draws celebrity chefs from around the country, and live performances by musicians. On Saturday “Top Chef” host Tom Colicchio attended, tweeting on Sunday after the shooting “prayers go out to all.”

The event was held in Gilroy’s Christmas Hill Park, which according to the event’s website has an explicit policy banning all weapons.