6-year-old boy among victims in California food festival shooting
The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose is treating six of the people hurt in the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting Sunday night.
Four people died, including the gunman, and at least 15 people were injured. Janet Shamlian reports.
What is the motive for the shooting and what evidence was found at the shooter’s residence?
On the evening of July 28, 2019, a shooting rampage occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, killing three people, including a 6-year-old boy, and injuring 15 others. The festival grounds were quickly turned into a chaotic and bloody scene, with families and festival goers running for their lives.
The 6-year-old boy, identified as Stephen Romero, was with his mother and grandmother when he was fatally shot. His mother was also hit by a bullet and is currently in critical condition. Romero was described by his father as “always happy,” and loved to play soccer and other sports. He had just graduated from kindergarten and was excited to attend the festival with his family.
The other two victims were identified as 13-year-old Keyla Salazar and recent college graduate Trevor Irby. Salazar was with her family at the festival when the shooting began and was later found dead. Irby was described by his alma mater, Keuka College, as a “kind, intelligent, and gentle soul.” He was attending the festival with his girlfriend, who was injured but survived the attack.
The shooter, 19-year-old Santino William Legan, opened fire on the unsuspecting festival goers with an AK-47-style rifle. Legan was ultimately shot and killed by police officers who responded swiftly to the scene.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear, but authorities have stated that Legan had a “target list,” including religious and political organizations. They also found extremist material during a search of his residence.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival is an annual event that draws thousands of people from all over the country. It features garlic-themed foods, live music, carnival rides, and games. The shooting has left the community in shock and mourning.
In response to the tragic events, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement expressing condolences to the families and pledging to take action to prevent future tragedies like this from occurring.
“We must call out hate for what it is,” Newsom said. “We cannot allow it to become normalized. We must do all we can to eliminate the scourge of gun violence from our communities.”
The shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival is the latest in a disturbing pattern of mass shootings in the United States. With each tragedy, the nation is left to grieve and search for solutions to prevent future senseless acts of violence. The victims of this tragedy, including the 6-year-old boy whose life was cut tragically short, will not be forgotten.
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