At least three people are dead and a dozen injured after a shooting Sunday evening at a food festival in Gilroy, Calif., the Associated Press reported, citing a city official. The scene remained “active” on Sunday night, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
Police responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival around 5:30 p.m. local time, the Mercury News reported. More than a dozen ambulances and fire department units were also dispatched to the festival grounds located about 30 miles south of San Jose, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System spokeswoman Joy Alexiou told NBC Bay Area that at least 11 people with gunshot wounds are being treated at area hospitals. They are in fair to critical condition, Alexiou said.
The Gilroy Police Department tweeted Sunday night that it has set up a center where families can find their loved ones.
“The hearts of Gilroy PD and entire community go out to the victims of today’s shooting at the Garlic Festival,” police said.
Julissa Contreras and her boyfriend, Mario Camargo, were browsing at a food tent when they saw a man in a military-style outfit emerge from a nearby access road and start shooting “left to right and right to left,” Contreras told The Washington Post in a phone interview. Contreras and Camargo ran in different directions, each taking shelter behind tents with crying children and frantic parents. Some people froze and others sprinted. Some appeared to play dead, Camargo said.
Once they heard the gunfire stop, Contreras and Camargo each made a run for the entrance, eventually reuniting in the parking lot. Camargo said he saw two wounded people as he fled.
“One guy was able to talk. He was saying, ‘Just go! Just go!” Camargo recalled. “People were crying, screaming, running in different directions. It was complete pandemonium.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called the incident “nothing short of horrific.” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D) tweeted that the city’s police and fire department were sent to Gilroy to help with what he called a “horrific shooting.”
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At least 3 reportedly dead, multiple injured in shooting at California food festival
Rosselló's replacement
is Secretary of
After weeks of unprecedented protests in Puerto Rico, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló (D) announced his resignation on July 24. Here’s what you need to know. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)
By Allyson Chiu and
Meagan Flynn
July 29 at 12:08 AM
At least three people are dead and a dozen injured after a shooting Sunday evening at a food festival in Gilroy, Calif., the Associated Press reported, citing a city official. The scene remained “active” on Sunday night, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
Police responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival around 5:30 p.m. local time, the Mercury News reported. More than a dozen ambulances and fire department units were also dispatched to the festival grounds located about 30 miles south of San Jose, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System spokeswoman Joy Alexiou told NBC Bay Area that at least 11 people with gunshot wounds are being treated at area hospitals. They are in fair to critical condition, Alexiou said.
The Gilroy Police Department tweeted Sunday night that it has set up a center where families can find their loved ones.
“The hearts of Gilroy PD and entire community go out to the victims of today’s shooting at the Garlic Festival,” police said.
Julissa Contreras and her boyfriend, Mario Camargo, were browsing at a food tent when they saw a man in a military-style outfit emerge from a nearby access road and start shooting “left to right and right to left,” Contreras told The Washington Post in a phone interview. Contreras and Camargo ran in different directions, each taking shelter behind tents with crying children and frantic parents. Some people froze and others sprinted. Some appeared to play dead, Camargo said.
Once they heard the gunfire stop, Contreras and Camargo each made a run for the entrance, eventually reuniting in the parking lot. Camargo said he saw two wounded people as he fled.
“One guy was able to talk. He was saying, ‘Just go! Just go!” Camargo recalled. “People were crying, screaming, running in different directions. It was complete pandemonium.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called the incident “nothing short of horrific.” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D) tweeted that the city’s police and fire department were sent to Gilroy to help with what he called a “horrific shooting.”
Videos uploaded to social media showed chaotic scenes of people running past tents and food trucks.
“What’s going on?” a person asked in one of the videos. Seconds later, a sharp crack echoed out, prompting screams as people could be seen fleeing in every direction.
“Oh, they’re shooting,” a breathless voice could be heard saying.
One witness said he was leaving the festival when he felt a bullet whiz past his head, according to NBC Bay Area. Another man told KTVU that he heard anywhere from 30 to 40 shots go off.
“People started running towards us yelling and screaming that there’s a guy shooting people,” the man said.
Photos and videos of the aftermath showed a number of police cars on the scene with their lights flashing. Fire trucks and ambulances were parked haphazardly near the festival grounds.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival was founded in 1979 and is billed as “the world’s greatest summer food festival.” The annual event, which was in its third and final day on Sunday, draws thousands of visitors each year.
On Sunday, President Trump tweeted that law enforcement was at the scene in Gilroy and warned people to “be careful and safe!”
Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) tweeted that her office is “closely monitoring the situation.”
“Grateful to first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy and keeping those injured by such senseless violence in my thoughts,” she said.
Police responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival around 5:30 p.m. local time, the Mercury News reported. More than a dozen ambulances and fire department units were also dispatched to the festival grounds located about 30 miles south of San Jose, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System spokeswoman Joy Alexiou told NBC Bay Area that at least 11 people with gunshot wounds are being treated at area hospitals. They are in fair to critical condition, Alexiou said.
The Gilroy Police Department tweeted Sunday night that it has set up a center where families can find their loved ones.
“The hearts of Gilroy PD and entire community go out to the victims of today’s shooting at the Garlic Festival,” police said.
Julissa Contreras and her boyfriend, Mario Camargo, were browsing at a food tent when they saw a man in a military-style outfit emerge from a nearby access road and start shooting “left to right and right to left,” Contreras told The Washington Post in a phone interview. Contreras and Camargo ran in different directions, each taking shelter behind tents with crying children and frantic parents. Some people froze and others sprinted. Some appeared to play dead, Camargo said.
Once they heard the gunfire stop, Contreras and Camargo each made a run for the entrance, eventually reuniting in the parking lot. Camargo said he saw two wounded people as he fled.
“One guy was able to talk. He was saying, ‘Just go! Just go!” Camargo recalled. “People were crying, screaming, running in different directions. It was complete pandemonium.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called the incident “nothing short of horrific.” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D) tweeted that the city’s police and fire department were sent to Gilroy to help with what he called a “horrific shooting.”
Democracy Dies in Darkness
We’re glad you’re enjoying The Washington Post. You’re almost out of free articles. Already a subscriber? Sign in
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Send me this offer
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Morning Mix
At least 3 reportedly dead, multiple injured in shooting at California food festival
Rosselló's replacement
is Secretary of
After weeks of unprecedented protests in Puerto Rico, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló (D) announced his resignation on July 24. Here’s what you need to know. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)
By Allyson Chiu and
Meagan Flynn
July 29 at 12:08 AM
At least three people are dead and a dozen injured after a shooting Sunday evening at a food festival in Gilroy, Calif., the Associated Press reported, citing a city official. The scene remained “active” on Sunday night, according to the Gilroy Police Department.
Police responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival around 5:30 p.m. local time, the Mercury News reported. More than a dozen ambulances and fire department units were also dispatched to the festival grounds located about 30 miles south of San Jose, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System spokeswoman Joy Alexiou told NBC Bay Area that at least 11 people with gunshot wounds are being treated at area hospitals. They are in fair to critical condition, Alexiou said.
The Gilroy Police Department tweeted Sunday night that it has set up a center where families can find their loved ones.
“The hearts of Gilroy PD and entire community go out to the victims of today’s shooting at the Garlic Festival,” police said.
Julissa Contreras and her boyfriend, Mario Camargo, were browsing at a food tent when they saw a man in a military-style outfit emerge from a nearby access road and start shooting “left to right and right to left,” Contreras told The Washington Post in a phone interview. Contreras and Camargo ran in different directions, each taking shelter behind tents with crying children and frantic parents. Some people froze and others sprinted. Some appeared to play dead, Camargo said.
Once they heard the gunfire stop, Contreras and Camargo each made a run for the entrance, eventually reuniting in the parking lot. Camargo said he saw two wounded people as he fled.
“One guy was able to talk. He was saying, ‘Just go! Just go!” Camargo recalled. “People were crying, screaming, running in different directions. It was complete pandemonium.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called the incident “nothing short of horrific.” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D) tweeted that the city’s police and fire department were sent to Gilroy to help with what he called a “horrific shooting.”
Videos uploaded to social media showed chaotic scenes of people running past tents and food trucks.
“What’s going on?” a person asked in one of the videos. Seconds later, a sharp crack echoed out, prompting screams as people could be seen fleeing in every direction.
“Oh, they’re shooting,” a breathless voice could be heard saying.
One witness said he was leaving the festival when he felt a bullet whiz past his head, according to NBC Bay Area. Another man told KTVU that he heard anywhere from 30 to 40 shots go off.
“People started running towards us yelling and screaming that there’s a guy shooting people,” the man said.
Photos and videos of the aftermath showed a number of police cars on the scene with their lights flashing. Fire trucks and ambulances were parked haphazardly near the festival grounds.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival was founded in 1979 and is billed as “the world’s greatest summer food festival.” The annual event, which was in its third and final day on Sunday, draws thousands of visitors each year.
On Sunday, President Trump tweeted that law enforcement was at the scene in Gilroy and warned people to “be careful and safe!”
Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) tweeted that her office is “closely monitoring the situation.”
“Grateful to first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy and keeping those injured by such senseless violence in my thoughts,” she said.
