Four people were killed, including a 6-year-old boy, and 15 were wounded Sunday as a gunman opened fire at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California.
One of the suspects was shot and killed, and a second suspect was still on the loose late Sunday, sources told NBC Bay Area.
A 6-year-old boy was among those killed, according to members of his family. The boy later was identified as Steven Romero.
"He had his whole life to live," the boy's father Alberto Romero, said. "He was only 6."
RAW: Gilroy Police Updates on Garlic Festival Mass Shooting
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee provides updates on the deadly mass shooting at the city's annual garlic festival. (Published 2 hours ago)
Police and emergency personnel responded to reports of an active shooter incident at Gilroy's Christmas Hill Park about 5:40 p.m., Gilroy police Chief Scot Smithee said. Officers engaged the shooter in less than a minute.
Witnesses reported seeing a second gunman, and as of 11:30 p.m. the scene was still active, with multiple agencies searching for the outstanding suspect, according to Gilroy police.
Smithee said he anticipated police remaining at the scene overnight.
Witness Describes Chaos During Gilroy Garlic Fest Shooting
Patrice Waugh describes the scene following a shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. (Published 2 hours ago)
Officials with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center said they received five victims from the shooting, including two major trauma victims from St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy.
St. Louise initially received six gunshot wound victims, and of the four that remained there, one died, a hospital spokesperson said.
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An official with Regional Medical Center in San Jose said the hospital received four victims, one of which was in critical condition.
Shooter, 6-Year-Old Victim Among 4 Dead in Calif. Garlic Festival Shooting
Four people were killed, including one suspect, and at least 15 others were shot at a garlic festival in Gilroy, California. (Published 44 minutes ago)
One witness told NBC Bay Area he was on his way out of the festival when he felt a bullet pass by his head, and when he turned around, he saw everyone running.
Another witness told NBC Bay Area some people were stranded at nearby Las Animas Elementary School.
'He Was Ready to Do Some Damage': Witness Describes Gilroy, Calif. Shooting
A witness describes the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. (Published 3 hours ago)
San Jose police and fire units were responding to the scene to assist, according to a tweet from Mayor Sam Liccardo. Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies also were on scene, along with California Highway Patrol units.
For those searching for loved ones, a reunification center was set up at nearby Gavilan College in parking lot B, according to Gilroy police.
President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other politicians reacted to the shooting on social media late Sunday.
The annual festival was wrapping up its third and final day when reports of the shooting came in.
NBC Bay Area's Laura Garcia, Marianne Favro, Robert Handa and Janelle Wang contributed to this report.
tocamix90 on July 29th, 2019 at 02:04 UTC »
At a fucking food festival!?!
BlackCrackWhack on July 29th, 2019 at 01:40 UTC »
I live literally across the street from where the garlic festival takes place and was leaving to go to a friends house when 6 cop cars rolled by the fastest I’ve ever seen, this is actually crazy for this town which is small compared to the rest of the Bay Area.
StealthyStalkerPanda on July 29th, 2019 at 01:25 UTC »
TL;DR: Rundown (confirmed info) as of 11:30 p.m EST
3+ dead, 12+ others injured, some seriously, at Gilroy Garlic Festival following report of an active shooter. Per Wikipedia, The Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the largest food festivals in the United States, held annually in Gilroy, California on the last full weekend in July at Christmas Hill Park. In 2009, over 100,000 people attended. Reports of the shooting came in at 5:30pm local time. Believed to be two shooters, one is certainly on the run. Preliminarily described a two white males in their 20s or 30s One wearing camouflage and a "boonie" hat. One shooter dead, the other currently "outstanding" NBC Bay Area Livestream Witness line and family reunification line: 408-846-0583 Gavilan College parking lot B is being set up as a reunification spot for festival attendees. [Source] [Source2]Longform News (sloppier, as it comes in)
Festival was in its third and final day. Video where a shot can be heard being fired. Scanner traffic (always unconfirmed and to be taken with a grain of salt) is suggesting high numbers of victims (50+) and two shooters. [Source] Multiple shooters, in particular, is to be taken with a grain of salt. This is one of the most common post-shooting miscommunications. While I'm editorializing, 50+ also seems high and with little other than scanner rumbles best to disregard for now. Garlic IC is requesting further assistance [Source] Gavilan College parking lot B is being set up as a reunification spot for festival attendees. [Source] [Source2] The situation is perhaps still active; ambulances have been reportedly unallowed to go directly to the site because they don't have tactical gear, per scanner. [Source] Per scanner, suspect still on the loose. Editorializing again, but I will not be sharing videos of injured/maybe dead people. A few videos are popping up. Ambulances from other communities (didn't catch the name) are still arriving at the scene. Police describe the Garlic Festival shooter as somebody located "south of Miller (Avenue) in the creek wearing camouflage and a boonie hat." [Source] At least one dead, three seriously injured [Source] Video that features multiple gunshots. Multiple local agencies on scene. TV witness (via NBC news) saying shooter had a "semi-automatic rifle" Another video of the shooting from a different location. NBC Bay Area, which notes it is unable to confirm this independently, reports 7 dead on its livestream. San Fransisco's ATF Division is responding to the scene. [Source] Gilroy PD saying the scene is still "active" [Source] AP reporting at least five shot. [Source] A Central Coast Police Officer has told KSBW that as many as 60 are injured at the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting -- not all injuries may be from gunshots. [Source] Again, numbers greatly vary online. I'm just sharing what I see as it comes in and marking it with sources. Multiple people are saying the suspect (or at least one of them) was dressed "almost" like a cop, in fatigues, cargo pants, a vest, and armed with a rifle. Shots fired in Gilroy again, police in tactical gear seen near the creek. [Source] Again with varying casualty numbers, ABC7 Bay Area reporting between 12-40+ injured with some dead. [Source] At least three dead, at least twelve others injured — NYT [Source] That’s most likely a wrap for me tonight. If I’m awake and anything big develops, I’ll update people here. Have a safe night, hug your loved ones.