GILROY, Calif. (AP) — A gunman cut through a fence to avoid security and opened fire at Northern California’s popular Gilroy Garlic Festival, killing three and wounding at least 15 before police fatally shot him as terrified people and performers ran for cover.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said the gunman was armed with a rifle and sneaked in through a fence that borders a parking lot next to a creek. He appeared to randomly target people when he opened fire just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the conclusion of the three-day festival that attracts more than 100,000 people to the city known as the “Garlic Capital of the World.”
Police responded within a minute, engaged the suspect and killed him, Smithee said.
Some witnesses reported a second suspect, Smithee said, but it was unclear whether that person was armed or simply provided assistance. A manhunt continued late into the night.
Smithee called the scene at the festival a “nightmare you hope you never have to live.”
A 6-year-old boy was one among those killed, his father said. “My son had his whole life to live and he was only 6,” the father of Stephen Romero told NBC Bay Area. “That’s all I can say.”
The wounded were taken to multiple hospitals, and their conditions ranged from fair to critical, with some in surgery Sunday night. At least five were treated and released.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival features food, cooking contests and music. It’s a decades-old staple in the agricultural city of 50,000 about 80 miles (176 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Security is tight — festival-goers pass through metal detectors and their bags are searched.
On Sunday, the band TinMan was starting an encore with the song “We’re an American Band” when the shooting started.
Singer Jack van Breen said he saw a man wearing a green shirt and grayish handkerchief around his neck fire into the food area with what looked like an assault rifle. Van Breen and other members of the band dove under the stage.
Van Breen, from nearby Santa Clara, said he heard someone shout: “Why are you doing this?” and the reply: “Because I’m really angry.”
Their audience began screaming and running, and the five members of TinMan and others dove under the stage.
Van Breen’s bandmate, Vlad Malinovsky of Walnut Creek, California, said he heard a lot of shots and then it stopped. Later, law enforcement came by and told the band members and others hiding with them to come out with their hands up.
Taylor Jackson was working at a booth drawing caricatures of festival-goers when she heard gunfire, saw people running and “ran for the hills.” She said her boss ran in the opposite direction. Several hours later, Jackson was at a reunification center trying to get information on her whereabouts.
Donna Carlson of Reno, Nevada, was helping a friend at a jewelry booth when “all of a sudden it was pop, pop, pop. And I said, ‘I sure hope that’s fireworks.'” She got on her hands and knees and hid behind a table until police told her it was safe to leave.
In a tweet, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the bloodshed “nothing short of horrific” and expressed appreciation for the police response. President Donald Trump tweeted before authorities confirmed the gunman was dead and urged people to “be careful and safe!”
Video posted to social media showed people running in terror as shots rang out.
Evenny Reyes of Gilroy, 13, told the Mercury News that she spent the day at the festival with her friends and relatives.
“We were just leaving and we saw a guy with a bandanna wrapped around his leg because he got shot. And there were people on the ground, crying,” Reyes said. “There was a little kid hurt on the ground. People were throwing tables and cutting fences to get out.”
Reyes said that she didn’t run at first because the gunshots sounded like fireworks.
“It started going for five minutes, maybe three. It was like the movies — everyone was crying, people were screaming,” she said.
Smithee said the festival is a source of pride for the community and that thousands donate their time to make it a success.
“It’s incredibly sad and disheartening that an event that does so much good for our community has to suffer from a tragedy like this,” he said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/shooting-reported-california-garlic-festival-020539550.html
Van Breen, from nearby Santa Clara, said he heard someone shout: “Why are you doing this?” and the reply: “Because I’m really angry.”
BULLSHIT…………………..NOBODY ANSWERS STUPID ASS QUESTIONS DURING BLOODLETTING….. JUST HOW ELSE IS THE BAND “TIN MAN” INVOLVED IN THIS OBVIOUS FALSE FLAG ON “ASSAULT RIFLES”?
That one jumped out at you too, KOYOTE?
Not only is no one going to answer such a stupid question such as that, but no one in their right mind is going to even ASK as stupid question such as that.
The LAST thing you want to do during an active shooting is to draw the shooter’s attention to yourself.
Unless you have a death wish.
“Reyes said that she didn’t run at first because the gunshots sounded like fireworks.”
High probability of that, considering.
I wonder if Noah Posner was among the wounded or victims?
Reading the Yahoo site; Not a single question asked YET. Complete acceptance of the ‘story’. It may well be – but after a ton and a half of BS being shoveled, you’d think SOMEONE might say; ‘Well, let’s wait and see’.
Nope.
Oh, yea. Soon as I saw it, I KNEW it was going to be the ‘dreaded assault rifle’, right?
LAWS ON THE DESK FOR SIGNING THIS WEEK
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For posterity. The players:
Sen. Bernie Sanders said, “This is sickening to wake up to.” He added: “Our corrupt political system, which is controlled by the gun lobby, has a lot of waking up to do.
Rep. Beto O’Rourke tweeted he is sending “love to all who are hurting tonight,” and said, “We can accept this as our fate or we can change it.”
Sen. Cory Booker wrote, “My heart is already breaking for the victims and their families and the survivors. The gun violence epidemic in this country is out of control.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden asked on Twitter, “How many more families will have to lose a loved one before we fix our broken gun laws?”
Sen. Kamala Harris called the incident, “Simply horrific.” She added, “I’m grateful to the first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy, and my thoughts are with that community tonight.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called gun violence a “national crisis.” She added, “We can’t keep ignoring this.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted “there are never adequate words to describe these tragedies.” She said, “Action is needed. ”
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock tweeted, “No one should fear for their family’s safety when they go to a festival, to school, or to a movie.”
Rep. Tim Ryan called the shooting “heart breaking.” He added, “There’s no end to gun violence in our communities until we take action.”
Rep. Julian Castro said, “Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough—we must do more to prevent these tragic attacks.”
Biden: This violence is not normal. How many more families will have to lose a loved one before we fix our broken gun laws? We must take action, starting with real reform.
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EACH ONE OF THESE COMMENTS IS A CALL FOR WAR ON AMERICAN SOIL…….
The Bill of Rights says shall not be infringed, period. And not one on your list could whip the wind with a sack full of hammers. But times are desperate and I really do believe they need to try.
A break-in at CIA headquarters turned up their medical records. Their x-rays revealed none had a spine.
Access was gained to their DNA files. Each showed large strains of both viper and lemming.
All had beating hearts, but these were hollow and filled with slithering, tiny snakes.
There was documentation that at birth, each had had surgical removal of tail and horns.
.
Nice! Why am I not hearing this on the MSM?
The MSM has been too busy teaching Noahide Law Prayers to Congress and making sure they are uttered with deep reverence.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders said, “This is sickening to wake up to.” He added: “Our corrupt political system, which is controlled by the gun lobby, has a lot of waking up to do.
Vote For Me
Rep. Beto O’Rourke tweeted he is sending “love to all who are hurting tonight,” and said, “We can accept this as our fate or we can change it.”
Remember me?
Sen. Cory Booker wrote, “My heart is already breaking for the victims and their families and the survivors. The gun violence epidemic in this country is out of control.”
Nothing to do with mental illness
Former Vice President Joe Biden asked on Twitter, “How many more families will have to lose a loved one before we fix our broken gun laws?”
Confiscation is the way
Sen. Kamala Harris called the incident, “Simply horrific.” She added, “I’m grateful to the first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy, and my thoughts are with that community tonight.”
My comments suck as much as I do.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called gun violence a “national crisis.” She added, “We can’t keep ignoring this.”
No, never head of it, what is Liberal Projection?
Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted “there are never adequate words to describe these tragedies.” She said, “Action is needed. ”
What I said makes sense, right?
P.S. Vote For Me
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock tweeted, “No one should fear for their family’s safety when they go to a festival, to school, or to a movie.”
That is why we must take all law abiding citizens guns.
Rep. Tim Ryan called the shooting “heart breaking.” He added, “There’s no end to gun violence in our communities until we take action.”
To end gun violence we must eliminate honest people’s ability to defend themselves.
Rep. Julian Castro said, “Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough—we must do more to prevent these tragic attacks.”
We must take ALL the guns for your safety.
Biden: This violence is not normal. How many more families will have to lose a loved one before we fix our broken gun laws? We must take action, starting with real reform.
Vote For Me – again
“That is why we must take all law abiding citizens guns.”
LOVING ON THE “DEMOCRACY” A BIT MUCH TODAY????
Galen, yep!
Cough…cough…Bullshit.