indica News Bureau –
At least three people were killed and 12 injured in a shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California, authorities said Sunday night, according to published reports. The dead include a shooter who has killed by police, and the scene remained “active” on Sunday night, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
At least 12 people were transported to two area hospitals in fair to critical condition, said Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara Valley Public Health System, according to media reports.
Gunshots were reported at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time on the third and final day of the annual food festival, which is a community-wide event that as has raised money for local schools, charities, and non-profit organizations since its founding in 1979.
Witnesses at the scene said that at first they thought loud sounds they heard were firework but realized it was the sound of rapid-fire gunshots – up to 60 rounds with a reload pause, some witnesses said — and that the shooter fired at random, not targeting individuals during the final song of the last band scheduled to play the festival, according to media reports.
More than a dozen ambulances and fire department units were also dispatched to the festival grounds, according to media reports.
Agents with the San Francisco division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene, about 30 miles southeast of San Jose, according to news reports.
President Trump tweeted that law enforcement was at the scene and warned people to “be careful and safe!”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted, “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.”
Also taking to Twitter, U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Grateful to first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy and keeping those injured by such senseless violence in my thoughts. My office is closely monitoring the situation.”
[Photo Courtesy: Twitter]
