3 dead, including 2 children, and at least 12 hurt: What we know about Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee confirmed Monday afternoon that a shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, left three people dead: Stephen Romero, 6, Trevor Irby, 25, and Keyla Salazar, 13.
Police identified the shooter, who died at the scene, as Santino William Legan, 19.
At least 12 people were wounded and taken to multiple hospitals; their conditions ranged from fair to critical. At least five were treated and released.
Gilroy police said at a press conference that officers engaged the shooter in less than a minute.
California shooting rampage: 6 year-old Stephen Romero among victims
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"It's a nightmare you don't want to live," Smithee said.
Who are the victims?
Stephen Romero, 6, attended the event with his mother and grandmother, who were also shot and are expected to survive.
A GoFundMe has been established to assist with the cost of funeral expenses.
Trevor Irby, 25, graduated from Keuka College in New York in 2017 and was at the festival with his girlfriend.
'A tragedy': California mourns victims of Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting
The president of the upstate New York college issued a statement confirming Irby’s death: “Our hearts go out to Trevor’s family and loved ones. We are shocked that this latest episode of senseless gun violence resulted in the loss of one of our recent graduates — graduates in whom we place so much hope because of their potential to create a brighter tomorrow.”
Keyla Salazar's death was confirmed by the Santa Clara Coroner's Office. The 13-year-old's mother posted a Facebook post trying to find her in the aftermath of the shooting. A GoFundMe account was established on Monday afternoon.
Who is the suspect?
Police have identified the shooter as Santino William Legan, 19, a Gilroy native. They have not identified a motive.
"It appears it was somewhat random, the way he shot at people," Smithee said.
Witnesses indicated there may have been a second suspect involved, but police are still investigating and have no identifying information, Smithee said.
"We have teams working to try to track down and identify leads regarding the second suspect," he said.
Gun was purchased legally
The suspect legally purchased an "AK-47-type assault rifle" in Nevada on July 9, police said Monday.
Where did the shooting happen?
The Gilroy Garlic Festival, located in northern California, has been an annual event for 41 years. The three-day festival featuring food, cooking competitions and music regularly attracts thousands of attendees to the town, known for its garlic production.
Sunday was the final day of this year's event.
More than 80,000 people attended last year's event, according to the festival's website.
Was there security?
Yes. People attending the festival were required to pass through metal detectors and security before getting into the park.
The suspect entered the festival by cutting through a fence, officials said.
Before the shooting: Gilroy and its garlic festival created powerful memories
Gilroy: 'Really angry' gunman who killed 3 cut fence, shot randomly
What have witnesses said?
San Jose resident Angela Escarcega said her family has been going to the festival for over 10 years. After running from the gunfire with her son in her arms and meeting with the rest of her family at the reunification center at Gavilan College, they said now they don’t want to go anymore.
“My little one,” she said of her 9-year-old son. “He’s ready to go home.”
Gilroy native and Hollister resident Brendon Gorshe was with his wife, daughters and father when they spotted the shooter.
"He was right at the end of the booths where there was a gap," Brendon said.
"He looked kind of like when people go fishing with khaki pants, hat and a vest with all of their bait," Gorshe's daughter Kayla, 11, said. "He had a green scarf around his neck as well and had his gun pointed down."
Kayla and her twin sister Makenna both thought the shooter was there as a part of some ceremony to salute a fallen officer.
"Then he raised his gun and started shooting," Kayla recalled. "People were screaming and running and it took me a couple seconds to process that there was a shooting happening and we need to get down."
Contributing: John Bacon, Jordan Culver and Kristin Lam, USA TODAY; Chelcey Adami, Kate Cimini, Eduardo Cuevas and Ayrton Ostly, Salinas Californian; Associated Press.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting: What we know
