‘Target list’ prompts terrorism case in Gilroy

Funeral Mass held for young shooting victim

SOS ANGESES — The FBI has opened a domestic terrorism investigation into the mass shooting at a California food festival after it discovered a “target list” compiled by the gunman whose relatives apologized Tuesday and said they were “horrified” by his actions.

The FBI disclosure came during a funeral Mass for Keyla Salazar, a 13-year-old middle schooler who was one of three people killed on July 28 by gunman Santino William Legan during the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Thirteen others were injured.

It was the first of three mass shootings within a week that killed a total of 34 people in Gilroy, Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.

The FBI has opened domestic terrorism cases in two of the attacks.

In Gilroy, the FBI cited the 19-year-old Legan’s list of targets that included religious institutions, courthouses, federal buildings and both major political parties in the United States.

Authorities say the gunman in Texas posted a racist, anti-hispanic screed online. The FBI has not said if it is considering the Ohio case to be domestic terrorism, even though the shooter expressed a desire to commit a mass shooting.

In California, federal investigators and Legan’s family said they have not been able to come up with a motive for the festival attack.

However, John Bennett, FBI agent in charge in San Francisco, said the agency cannot rule out white nationalism as a factor.

On the day of the attack, Legan urged his Instagram followers to read a 19th century book popular with white supremacists who follow extremist websites. He also complained about overcrowding towns and paving open space to make room for “hordes” of Latinos and Silicon Valley whites.

The FBI said Legan appeared to be interested in conflicting violent ideologies, but authorities have not found a written explanation for his attack or any indication of previous violent behavior.

The FBI says investigators continue to examine Legan’s digital media to determine his possible ideology, who he may have been in contact with regarding the ideologies, who if anyone helped him, and why he committed the violence, Bennett said.

The target list was found during the investigation of the digital evidence. Bennett said the groups included were being notified but the FBI would not release their names.