Shooting at festival
California gunman who killed three before being fatally shot by police is identified
Authorities in California on Monday identified the gunman who killed three people, including two children, and injured at least a dozen at the Gilroy Garlic Festival before being fatally shot by police.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said Santino William Legan, 19, entered the festival Sunday with an “AK-47-type assault rifle,” cutting through a fence to avoid metal detectors and other security efforts.
He appeared to shoot randomly for less than a minute before three officers confronted him, Smithee said. Legan was quickly killed in the ensuing shootout, he said.
The victims were a 6-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a man in his 20s. No motive for the shooting had been identified, Smithee said.
GILROY, California – Authorities in California on Monday identified Santino William Legan, 19, as the gunman whose rampage at the Gilroy Garlic Festival left three people dead and at least a dozen injured.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee confirmed the identity of the shooter, saying he entered the festival Sunday with an “AK-47-type assault rifle,” cutting through a fence to avoid metal detectors and other security efforts. He appeared to shoot randomly for less than a minute before three officers confronted him.
Legan was killed in the ensuing shootout, he said. Smithee lauded his officers, noting they carried only pistols.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am of our officers for being able to engage this guy as quickly they did,” he said. “We had thousands of people there in a small area. It could have gone so much worse.”
The gun was purchased legally in Nevada this month, Smithee said. The victims included a 6-year-old boy, a 13year-old girl and a man in his 20s. No motive had been identified, he said.
FBI Special Agent Craig Fair said the agency was assisting in determining a motive. He said ideological leanings were among factors to be reviewed.
President Donald Trump briefly discussed the shooting Monday at the White House, saying everyone should pray for the victims.
“A wicked murderer opened fire and killed three innocent citizens including a young child,” Trump said. “We thank the brave members of law enforcement; they never let us down.”
Smithee said there were reports of a second shooter or accomplice.
The band TinMan had been playing when the shooting started, and singer Jack van Breen said he saw a man wearing a green shirt and grayish handkerchief fire into the food area with what looked like an assault rifle. He and other members of the band dived for cover.
Van Breen said he heard someone shout: “Why are you doing this?” and the reply: “Because I’m really angry.”
Alberto Romero told The Mercury News he was home with his 9-year-old daughter when his wife called him from the festival. She said “they shot my son,” Stephen Romero, and that she also had been wounded in the rampage.
Romero rushed to St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy, a town of fewer than 60,000 people 85 miles southeast of San Francisco.
“They told me he was in critical condition, that they were working on him,” Romero said. “Five minutes later they told me he was dead.”
The festival is a tradition in the region, drawing about 80,000 people last year. More than 4,000 volunteers make the fest possible, and the smell of garlic is everywhere.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was among numerous officials who showed support on social media.
“This is nothing short of horrific,” he tweeted. “CA stands with the Gilroy community.”